By Alexey Sukachev
BoxingScene has already reported the main results of May 21 Kiev tournament, staged cooperatively by the K2 East Promotions and by the Elite Boxing Promotion. However, the official result of the clash between defending EBA middleweight champion Avtandil Khurtsidze (21-1-2, 12 KOs) and Hungarian challenger Mihaly Kotai (36-4-1, 16 KOs) somewhat differs from the originally announced TKO 8 victory for the Kiev-based Georgian. In fact, Khurtsidze was awarded with a technical decision at 2:30 of the eighth round following a deep cut suffered by the Hungarian fight in an accidental headbutt. Scores at the time of stoppage were: 79-69 and 79-70 (twice) – all for the defending champion.
In an undercard of the show, four out of five Elite Boxing Promotion’s prospects notched their next victories. Hard-hitting cruiserweight Dmytro Kucher is now 9-0 with 8 KOs, after his experienced foe Mikhail Nasyrov (19-3, 13 KOs) retired in his corner after the sixth round. Junior welterweight Victor Postol (10-0, 7 KOs) scored a near-shutout victory over Uzbek Mamasoli Kimsanbaev (11-3, 4 KOs) – 80-72 (twice) and 79-73, while his stablemate Timur Ahundov (11-3, 4 KOs) accomplished a clean sweep of Farhod Oripov (9-6-1, 4 KOs) over eight: 80-72 (thrice). 17-year old Daniyar Hanyk (7-0, 3 KOs) outpointed Dmytro Bogachuk (1-9-2, 1 KO) over six: 58-56, 59-55 and 60-54. Also Dmytro Semernin (4-0, 2 KOs) scored an upset split decision over local favorite Igor Fanyan (9-1-1, 6 KOs): 60-54, 59-56 and 56-58.
In the main event of the night, Valentyn Kuts acquired a vacant EBA lightweight title with the split decision over Sam Rukundo of Denmark.
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Lanky (6’3’’) super middleweight stylist Maxim Vlasov (17-0, 8 KOs) will be showcased during June 18 installment of the ESPN Friday Night Fights. 23-year old Samara native Vlasov collides with equally tall Nigerian Kingsley Ikeke (27-3, 14 KOs) in a thrilling ten-rounder at Northern Quest Casino in Spokane, WA.
Interestingly, Vlasov, who has recently annihilated Julius Fogle (then 15-1) in a single round, is 6-0 with 5 KOs while competing in USA and just 11-0 with 3 KOs when coming back home. However, on April 27 it took him just three rounds to get the rid of Ukrainian Vasyl Kondor (18-10-1). Ikeke, who challenged Arthur Abraham for a vacant IBF middleweight title in 2005, will present the biggest threat in Vlasov’s entire career to date.
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Rapidly rising WBC #21 Hungarian lightweight Gabor Veto (17-0, 14 KOs), who also holds WBC Youth title, made a short work of pro debutant Edward Roy Suter (0-1) this past Saturday in Zurich, Switzerland. Veto stopped Suter at 2:59 of the second round. He will be back to the squared circle two days later at Festsaal Lendorf in Spittal, Austria, and is expected to finish the job early once again as his opponent will be trialhorse Jegise Tovmaszjan (0-4). Headlining the show is junior welterweight Ali Chusseinov (20-0, 11 KOs) in another tune-up.
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On Saturday unbeaten Montenegrin prospect Nikola Sjekloca (16-0, 5 KOs) will have a chance to showcase his talents in front of a home crowd in Budva, Montenegro. Sjekloca is taking on once-beaten Ukrainian Roman Shkarupa (22-1-2, 7 KOs) for a vacant WBC International super middleweight title. Sjekloca is rated #19 by the WBC at 168lb. Supporting the show is Serbian super middleweight Dejan Ribac (18-1, 6 KOs) who is coming off two years of inactivity.
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On the same date at Pinki Sport Hall in Beograd, Serbia, local promoter Ljubisa Ignatovic stages a well-packed little tournament under the IBF aegis. In the main event, IBF #14 light middleweight Nikola Stevanovic (20-1-1, 7 KOs) puts his IBF I/C title at risk against undefeated South African welterweight champion Chris Van Heerden (14-0-1, 10 KOs). Bosnian cruiserweight Goran Delic (15-0, 3 KOs) clashes against Ukrainian Alex Mogilewski (12-4, 8 KOs) in another twelve-rounder for a vacant IBF East/West Europe title. Local prospects Sanel Papic (5-0, 2 KOs) and 17-year old Milan Kostic (4-1, 1 KO) as well as undefeated Sweden-based Georgian Vamehi Kartweli (9-0, 5 KOs) will be showcased in an undercard.
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Unbeaten Swiss middleweight Yves Studer (24-0, 6 KOs) will also see action this Saturday night, when he risks his EBU-EE title against Georgian youngster Shalva Jomardashvili (27-2, 19 KOs). The fight will take place at Kursaal in Bern.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, June 3, Switzerland will host a fight for a newly-crowned WBC Silver featherweight titlist Justin Savi (24-0, 16 KOs). The Beninese, who acquired his title last month by stopping Frenchman Cyrill Thomas, will sharpen his skills against dangerous Latvian journeyman Jevgenijs Kirillovs (4-6-1, 4 KOs) over eight rounds. In the main event of the night, Patrick Kinigamazi (13-0, 2 KOs) goes ten against Mexican Argel Salinas (13-6-1, 6 KOs).
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Several well-known names will be seen in the undercard of June 5 Istanbul promotion, arranged by Ahmet Oener and headlined by the cross-roader between two unbeatens, when local welterweight aggressor Selcuk Aydin (19-0, 15 KOs) takes on Romanian Ionut Dan Ion (26-0, 14 KOs) for a vacant silver piece of the WBC 147lb crown. Seeing action will be Ukrainian heavyweights Taras Bidenko (26-4, 12 KOs) and Alexey Mazikin (13-5-2, 3KOs) as well as Turkish female prospect Asiye Sahin (9-0-1, 6 KOs) – in six-rounders. Undefeated but untested Turkish heavyweight Yakup Saglam (24-0, 21 KOs) will be checked up closely by German veteran Andreas Sidon (33-9, 27 KOs). This fight is scheduled for eight rounds.
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Uzbek promoter Shuhrat Haydarov of Favzul Munavvar promotional group is pretty busy at the end of May. On Friday May 21 he staged his next boxing tournament at Metallurg Stadium in Almalyk. Three fights out of seven gained particular attention. Light middleweight Abdulaziz Matazimov (12-5, 6 KOs) knocked out Thai veteran Kongthawat Sorkitti (47-38-1, 34 KOs) in two rounds. Welterweight Sherzodbek Alimjanov (19-1, 11 KOs) stopped another Thai Somchai Nakbalee (12-10-1, 4 KOs) also in two, while lightweight Bahrom Payozov (13-1, 8 KOs) pummeled Kenyan Geoffrey Munika (19-15-2, 10 KOs) six rounds before the stoppage.
In a day both Haydarov and Munika will be back in action. The Kenyan will try to last six against light welterweight prospect Zohid Hudayberdiev (15-0, 8 KOs) in Bekabad. The show will also feature a comeback of former fringe contender Kuvanych Toygonbayev (30-6, 19 KOs), who will be seen in a six-round tune-up.
