By Igor Lazorin, tass
The mandatory challenger to the "regular" World Boxing Association heavyweight title - Alexander Ustinov of Russia - returned to the ring after a long layoff and demolished Brazilian Raphael Zumbano Love by TKO in the first round of a contest scheduled for ten. The contest took place in Bolton as part of a Frank Warren card that was televised on BoxNation in the UK.
The Brazilian, within the first minute, was knocked down, and then he continued to get battered until the referee decided to stop the fight, awarding the early victory to Ustinov.
40-year-old Ustinov stepped into the ring for the first time after a 17-month layoff caused by the numerous delays in fights that were scheduled as part of the WBA's tournament to establish a single heavyweight champion.
The last time the Russian giant came out to the ring was back in December 2015, when he won against German boxer Konstantin Airich by knockout in the fifth round.
He was then scheduled last year to fight Luis Ortiz, on at least three different dates, as part of the WBA's tournament - but the fight first fell apart after Ortiz parted ways with Golden Boy Promotions and then fell apart again after Ortiz refused to fight Ustinov in Russia.
Ustinov is now in line to face the winner of the June 3rd bout between Shannon Briggs and Fres Oquendo, who battle for the vacant WBA "regular" title.
With this win, Ustinov raised his record to 34 victories (25 by knockout) and one defeat. The 36-year-old Love suffered his 15th defeat, with 39 victories (32 by knockout) and one draw.
Ustinov's manager, Vlad Hryunov, is ready to match his guy with the Briggs-Oquendo winner as soon as possible.
"After the conclusion of that fight, we asked the WBA to allow only a one week negotiations period and if we can't reach a deal then we want a purse bid. We want to make that fight as quickly as we can," Hryunov said.