Matchroom Boxing – Eddie Hearn Saturday over Sky Sports (UK) and DAZN (Zone US) feature the vacant WBA World Welterweight match between Russia’s No. 2 ranked Radzhab “The Phython” Butaev and No. 1 ranked Alexander Besputin at the Casino de Monte Carlo Salle, Monte Carlo, in Monaco.
The No. 2 contender Radzhab “The Phython” Butaev, 12-0 (9), #143, of Salsk, Russia, now out of Brooklyn, NY, the No. 1 contender southpaw Alexander Besputin, 13-0 (9), #147, of Kamensk-Uralsby, Russia, now out of Oxnard, CA, for the vacant WBA World Welterweight title.
In the first round Besputin was countering as Butaev was doing the lead. Besputin may have had an edge in the round. In the second round it was Bestputin coming forward mixing it up. Besputin seemed a little quicker than Butaev. In the third round Besputin made Butaev miss quite a bit. Butaev has landed several good uppercuts to the body of Besputin. Butaev has problems cutting off the ring but when he does he gets in a couple of lead rights.
In the fourth round halfway thru Butaev held Besputin’s head down and landed several punches without the referee doing a thing. In the final seconds of the round Butaev got in a solid pair of rights to the head and then the body of Besputin. In the fifth round Besputin was having his way up to near the halfway mark of the round when Butaev landed a good right to the mid-section of Bestputin. In the final minute of the round Butaev switched to southpaw before returning to orthodox in the final twenty seconds.
In the sixth round Butaev held the head of Besputin down and the referee motioned for Besputin to keep his head up. But how when its being held down? Half a round later in the final minute while Butaev was holding down Besputin’s head the latter landed a good overhand left to the head of Butaev.
In the seventh round the fight continued with the same while Butaev chased and Besputin countered well and even inside did well. In the eighth round Besputin using the ring well comes inside landing good hooks to the body of Butaev. Besputin lands three jabs at a time and some good chopping punches with both hands to the head of Butaev.
In the ninth round halfway thru Butaev landed a crushing right to the body making Besputin go sidewase looking like his foot was caught while the referee stood by. In the final seconds Butaev had Besputin against the ropes with both throwing but Butaev getting the best of it
In the tenth round Butaev was warned twice by the referee in the first minute for infractions. Halfway thru the round Besputin was cut between the right eye and his nose. Besputin ended the round with a solid left to the chin of Butaev.
In the eleventh round Besputin’s came loose stopping the action after half a minute. In this round Besputin was having his best round in the final twenty seconds he landed half a dozen unanswered punches with his good hand speed.
In the twelfth and final round Besputin continued having his way until his cut re-opened along with a second cut near the first one over the right eyelid. He dominated the round frustrating Butaev.
Besputin finished strong. As the bell sounded Butaev head butted into the cut of Bestputin causing a problem.
All scores were 116-112 while this writer had it 117-111.
“Yes, I was very confident but got tired near the end and was aiming my punches. Yes, it was a very difficult fight and we have history with him from the amateurs though we never fought in the ring. First of all (due to cuts) I want to rest with my family and want to unify the titles,” said Besputin.
WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, IBO Female Welter Champion, “The First Lady of Boxing” Colombian Cecilia Braekhus, 36-0 (9), #146 1/2, out of Bergen, Norway, defended her WBA World Female Welterweight title easily defeating interim IBF World Female Super Lightweight Champion Victoria “La Leona” Noelia Bustos, 19-6 (0), #144 1/2, of Rosario, Sante Fe, Argentina, over 10 rounds.
In the first three rounds the taller Braekhus dominated Bustos. In the sixth round Braekhus landed a left hook as Bustos was stepping back and down she went. The referee ruled it a slip. In the ninth round Butos was still trying throwing left hooks but outgunned by the champion Braekhus. In the tenth and final round Bustos walked into a right to the chin.
Scores were 99-91 and 98-92 twice.
Lightweight Commonwealth and British Champion and 2016 Olympian Joe “The Welsh Wizard” Cordina, 11-0 (7), #129 1/2, out of Cardiff, Wales, UK, defeated WBA International Featherweight Champion Mario “Torito” Enrique Tinoco, 18-6-4 (13), #129 1/2, of Tijuan, MEX, for the vacant WBA Continental Americas Super Featherweight title, over 10 rounds.
In the first round Cordina did well outworking Tinoco. Near the halfway point of the round Cordina landed a solid right to the chin of Tinoco rocking him. Tinoco switched to southpaw and back to orthodox. In the third round Cordina rocked Tinoco with a left hook to the chin in the opening minute of the round. Tinoco held his own with Cordina but didn’t seem to win the round
In the fifth round Cordina continued out scoring Tinoco but the round was very close. In the seventh round Cordina landed well with jab and left hooks but Tinoco finished strong. Both gloves had loose tapes of Tinoco’s near the end of the round.
In the eighth round the fight picked up well. Tinoco was cuffing Cordina with the heel of his glove and got warned. Tinoco kept up with Cordina in this round. In the ninth round it was give and take with both fighters throwing punches by the end at the bell.
In the tenth and final round both fighters mixed well knowing it was the last round with Cordina seemingly well ahead. Tinoco gave Cordina all he could handle bringing out the best of him.
Scores were 98-92 twice and 96-94 with this writer having it 98-92.
“I had to move down in weight but got the win comfortably. I was weary early on but felt I had the win from them on. He kept coming forward and winced with my body shots at times. ”
Former Silver Medalist Olympian southpaw Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang, 21-0 (16), #266, of Zhoukou, China, out of Las Vegas, NV, defended and kept his WBO Oriental Heavyweight title defeated Andriy Rudenko, 32-5 (20), #244, out of Dnipro, Ukraine, over 10 rounds.
In the first round after a 14 month lay-off the 6:06 Zhang landed well from the start from the southpaw stance Rudenko on the other hand took the fight on ten days notice. Zhang did well outlanding Rudenko hurting him in the final seconds of the round with a left to the chin.
In the second round Rudenko landed several left hooks to the chin of Zhang. For the remainder of the round Rudenko spent most of his time trying to block the jab of Zhang who was outworking him. In the third round Rudenko landed a lead right to the chin but seconds later got hit with a lead left from Zhang. With a minute left in the round Rudenko got hurt by a lead left followed by a right on the chin from Zhang.
In the fourth round Zhang with hands held high blocked most of Rudenko’s punches until the final seconds getting hit with a lead right but countered with a left both punches on the chin. In the fifth round at the halfway point Zhang hurt Rudenko with a flurry against the ropes but let him out of the corner.
In the sixth round Zhang continued outlanding Rudenko while both fighters had slowed down at this point. Zhang had never gone past six rounds. In the seventh round Rudenko kept coming forward but with a minute left in the round got caught with a solid left on the chin from Zhang. In the final seconds Rudenko caught Zhang with several punches while looking somewhat tired.
In the eighth round with both fighters slowing down Zhang landed a solid lead left to the chin of Rudenko in the final minute getting his attention. In the ninth round after a minute gone Zhang rocked Rudenko with a lead left on the chin. Rudenko has a red mark under his right eye at this point.
In the tenth and final round Zhang warned for pushing off. Near halfway thru the round a right hook on the chin from Zhang rocked Rudenko. Both lumbered thru the rest of the round with Zhang continuing a shut out while going ten rounds for the first time in his twenty-one fight career. Rudenko has never been stopped in his 37 fight career.
Zhang is trained by American Shaun George in the latter’s NJ gym and managed by Dino Duva who was at ringside and in the ring when the scores were announced.
Scores were Budai 99-91, Martinez 98-92 and Nicolo 97-93. This writer had it 99-91. Jerome Lades was the referee.
Super Featherweight female Victoire Piteau, 4-1 (1), of Monaco, Raphaelle Lachamune, 0-1 (0), of Hauts-de-Seine, FR,
In the first round
2016 Olympian Thulasi “Tiger” Tharumalingan, 7-0 (4), #152.7, of Baden-Wurttemberg, GER, and Qutar, won a close decision to Georgian Alexander Benidze, 13-28-3 (6), #154, out of Kiev, UK, inspite of being knocked down once, over 6 rounds.
In the first round Benidze came forward with Tharumalingan countering well especially with left jab and hooks and getting away with lead right missed uppercuts. In the second round Benidze landed a looping right on the chin of Tharumalingan knocking him down for 8-count. He managed to get thru the round.
In the third round Tharumalingan stormed out landing punches until an overhand right from Benidze landed. With 20 seconds left in the round Benidze rocked Tharumalingan who boxed with his hands to his side with an overhand right on the chin. In the fourth round Benidze chased Tharumalingan walking into jabs on the most part until Tharumalingan grabbed him when he caught up to him.
In the fifth round Tharumalingan landed a lead right uppercut causing his tape to loosen. The corner re-taped it. Halfway thru the round a left hook from Benidze on the chin rocked Tharumalingan. With 15 seconds left in the round the tape came loose again.
In the sixth and final round both fighters got their punches in with Tharumalingan being warned several times for infractions.
Scores were referee Nicolo 58-55 and Laine along with Pena 57-56 for the winner. This writer had it 57-56 for Benidze based on the knockdown.