By Alexey Sukachev
Fight fans and experts abroad tend to limit the Russian boxing scene to major events arranged mostly by “World of Boxing’, Vladimir Hryunov and (considerably less frequently) by other promoters. But small venues and tiny shows often produce more explosive fisticuffs than cards filled with big names and prestigious titles. Fought in old-school arenas, permeated with the smell of shabby, faded leather and designated with Soviet boxing glory collisions between second-tier fighters, aging veterans and rising prospects can be much more attractive in retrospect.
One of such cards was installed today at the shrine of Soviet boxing (and still working as its daily harbor and occasional fight venue) – legendary “Krilya Sovetov” arena, a small venue, situated in one of Moscow usual backyards near the Dynamo metro station – by Aram Davtyan, a relatively new name to the Russian promotional scene.
Like his colleague Shamir Petrosyan, Davtyan is supported by the Union of Russian Armenians, and his fight cards are dominated mostly by ethnic Armenian fighters from various parts of Russia – specifically, Samara, Sochi and northern Caucuses. As is shown by the record books, Armenian promotion doesn’t transcend to favoritism for them on the scorecards, which tend to avoid any national (and also hometown) cooking.
The only problem is a business side of the event, as a share of guests and local/diaspora celebrities (with a number of young ladies supporting fighters) usually outnumber those casuals, who took some time off to witness the fights themselves. Partially, because of a fight time – the show started at 6 PM LT – but also due to their causes. Which is where they should be pity as they missed a nice-packed little show with some fireworks.
In the main event, Vage Sarukhanyan took on the biggest (on paper) test of his young career in Argentinean veteran Carlos Ricardo Rodriguez, a 35-year old veteran from Santiago del Estero. Rodriguez is trained by Eduardo Bartolome Morales of the same city, who is best known for his unsuccessful (stopped in five) challenge to then-rising star named Sugar Shane Mosley back in 1998. Rodriguez fought who’s who of Argentinean fight scene, mostly losing – including losses to Jonatan Victor Barros and Israel Perez.
As for Sochi native Sarukhanyan, aged 24, he began his career in the States in 2011, going 6-0, with 2 KOs and 1 No Contest, before heading back to Russia. He was just a fight removed from his back-to-back blemishes against Russian lightweight champion Igor Ivanov in 2014, the first fight ending in a technical draw, and the other one having been defeated by the Armenian.
This time Sarukhanyan was at his very best. Showing quickness he moved inside in every round, starting from the opening bell, landed fast combinations there and went out, before Rodriguez was able to get to him. Rodriguez was willing to trade but Vage didn’t cooperate choosing to hit himself rather than being hit. Slow and not as quick Rodriguez was an easy target, while his timing wasn’t good enough to produce any sound counters.
Rounds were much alike with Sarukhanyan slowly taking his opponent apart. He also added stinging body shots during the fight to make this night more painful for the veteran fighter. The latter showed character and some of Latino machismo but he was hit at will in the closing stages of the fight. Sarukhanyan, relying on his footwork, was too elusive and nowhere to hit or to be cornered.
At the end, all three judges were in agreement. Former Soviet boxing stars Alexander Kalinkin and Evgueny Gorstkov both had it 100-90 – for the Armenian, and Sergey Litunov chose to score one round even – 100-91. Sarukhanyan is now 10-1-1, with 2 KOs, while Rodriguez goes back to 30-11, with 15 KOs.
Undercard
It takes two for a tango. In case of light welterweight Manvel Sargsyan (5-0, 2 KOs), he found Ukrainian import Oleg Korobko, and both produced a memorable eight-rounder for everyone to be positively entertained.
Korobko, 25, who is originally from Kirovograd and fought in Kiev before relocating to the Moscow Region, has already faced Sargsyan. Both fought to a No Contest in December 2014, the fight ending with an accidental head clash. Sargsyan, 24, is trained by Victor Petrochenko, who guided Dmitry Pirog to a world title in 2010.
Both fought their styles. Sargsyan of Samara was flashy, and worked on reflexes. Korobko was more straight-forward but pressed the action the entire fight. Sargsyan had a hole for a right hook but Korobko hasn’t quickly spotted it. When he did find it the fight was nearing its end. Both fighters had their shares of success, but neither was close to a major shock. Nevertheless, Korobko’s right eye was closing to the end of the fight.
Either this or Sagsyan’s surges affect the judges but two of them had it 79-74 and 77-76 – for the Armenian, outweighing 78-76 card in favour of Korobko – for a split decision for Sargsyan. Korobko is now 4-4-2, with 1 KO. BoxingScene had it 76-76 – a draw.
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Friends outside the ring rarely meet each other inside it but when it happens, those bouts can sometimes be even more exciting than collision between fighters with mutual animosity.
As for 19-year old Egor Bakulin, also trained by Petrochenko, and his Samara townsman Maxim Chemezov, 30, they forgot for a short period their friendship and let the fists fly in a heated four-rounder. Chemezov did better in the first, then Bakulin took a ride but in the third he was hurt by his more experienced colleague and he was also hit much in the fourth.
BoxingScene thus saw it 39-37 – for Chemezov. Judge Alexander Kalinkin was in agreement, but Sergey Litunov saw it 39-38 – for Bakulin, and Andrey Kurniavka had it 38-38 – a split draw. Bakulin goes down to 4-1-1, 2 KOs, while Chemezov is 9-1-1, 2 KOs, his only loss being against world-rated Uzbek Olympian Sherzod Husanov.
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The local crowd supported him heavily, but Arutyun Seferyan (2-2) suffered his second career loss to welterweight Denis Kenzhegaliev. Seferyan was better in the first, but suffered a cut to his nose in the second and was beaten in that round too. Humiliation continued in the third, and Seferyan, despite any knockdowns, didn’t come for the fourth, being absolutely exhausted following Kenzhegaliev’s fierce assault at the end of the round.
Interestingly, Kenzhegaliev, who has over 140 wins as an amateur, scored his first career win. His record now is 1-4, with 1 KO.
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In the opener, Vladikavkaz native Georgiy Chelokhsaev improved his record to 5-0-1, with 4 KOs, after the first-round annihilation of Ukrainian fighter Artem Skornyakov (1-4). Skornyakov was first down with a left hook to the liver, then twice after multi-punch combinations before referee Andrey Kurnyavka waved it off at 2:37 of the round.