By Alexey Sukachev
Ukraine - WBO #13 rated light heavyweight Umar Salamov (14-0, 11 KOs) took an important step up in his career by scoring a wider-than-it-should-be unanimous decision over French travelling veteran Doudou N'Gumbu (34-7, 13 KOs) in the second defense of his WBO European title. Scores were: 119-111, 118-110 and 118-110 - for the Kiev-based Chechen fighter.
Salamov wisely boxed N'Gumbu instead of slugging with him. Standing tall at 6'3'' and moving awkwardly he was able to frustrate the French boxer and didn't allow him to find his distance. Nevertheless, the Frenchman found some soft spots and engaged Salamov in some close-quarter encounters to (at least) give him fits. BoxingScene saw it 116-112 - for Salamov.
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2011 WC and 2012 Olympic Games silver medalist Denis Berinchik (2-0, 2 KOs) was awarded a controversial stoppage at 1:36 of the sixth and final round against Netherlands-based Nigerian Innocent Anyanwu (22-13-3, 13 KOs).
Berinchik, 27, was aggressive throughout the fight and kept pressing Anyanwu all the time. Berinchik was working Nigerian's body with numerous punches also adding blows to the head (specifically, right uppercuts) but Anyanwu was never rocked or wobbled and easily took the damage. Berinchik also showed flaws in his defense, being hit unnecessarily - especially in later rounds. When the fight was heading to its end (and an expected unanimous decision for the Ukrainian), Berinchik unleashed another series of punches, taken well by his opponent but referee Victor Fessetchko has suddenly seen enough and stopped it. He got some sarcastic remarks from Anyanwu, 37, who was bleeding but never really hurt.
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Another Chechen fighter - Aslambek Idigov (9-0, 4 KOs) - scored a workmanlike decision over Georgian import Davit Ribakoni (8-9-5, 2 KOs). 20-year old Idigov easily dominated the fight, save for single moments and was rightfully awarded a wide decision - 60-54 on all the scorecards.
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The Baysangurov brothers - Khussein and Khasan - shined at the Terminal Ice Palace in Brovary, Ukraine, crushing their opponents in the early rounds of their minor title fights.
18-year old Khasan improved to 10-0, 4 KOs, after the second round stoppage of Argentinean Marcelo Ruben Molina (17-12, 14 KOs), while Khussein, 21, moved to 5-0, 3 KOs, stopping Frenchman Bryan Boussis (7-4-1) in the first. Boussis was stopped for the first time in his career. Khasan and Khussein captured WBO Youth titles in the light middleweight and welterweight divisions respectively. Interestingly, time of stoppage for both fights was identical (save for the number of the round) - 1:04.
