At Caesars Palace Dubai, United Arab Emirates D4G Promotions – Ahmed Saddiqi headlined with a WBC International Lightweight Title defense by Viktor Kotochigov of KAZ losing to Maxi “Maximus” Hughes of the UK on Friday over Top Rank ESPN+.
In the Main Event WBC International Lightweight champ Viktor Kotochigov, 12-1 (5), #135, of Almaty, KAZ, lost his title against southpaw Maxi “Maximus” Hughes, 22-5-2 (4), #135, of Yorkshire, UK, over good 10 rounds.
In the second round Hughes rocked Kotochigov with a left cross on the chin. In the third round Hughes knocked Kotochigov down for an 8 count. Shortly later Hughes was scoring with response when the referee stepped in to either stop or give a standing count but did neither.
In the fourth round Kotochigove came back before being rocked by Hughes to make it interesting. In the fifth it was close but Hughes got it and at the end there were bruises under both of the eyes of Kotochigove. In the sixth it was close and Kotochigove may have eked it out. In the seventh round Hughes started well and Kotochigove finished well, it could have gone either way. There was much swelling on the left cheek bone of Kotochigove at the end of the round.
In the eighth round Hughes landed several lead left’s to the chin of Kotochigove taking the round. In the ninth round it was close with Hughes possibly tiring but still may have gotten the round. In the tenth and final round Kotochigove was looking for a stoppage being behind on the scorecards and did enough to take the round.
Scores were 96-93, 97-92 and 95-94 with this writer 97-93.
Making his debut Super Lightweight Hovhannes Bachkov, 1-0 (0), #142, of Gyumri, Armenia, did well in defeating Samuel “El Pana” Gonzalez, 22-7 (13), #142, of VZ, and Milan, Italy, over 8 rounds.
In the first round it was competitive until the final seconds when a left from Bachkov on the chin of Gonzalez rocked him. In the next six rounds the former outstanding amateur Bachkov did well against a tough more experienced opponent especially in the sixth and seventh rounds.
In the eighth and final round Bachkov had Gonzalez hurt halfway through the round. Bachkov did well going 8 rounds in his first fight.
Scores were 80-72 with this writer 79-73.
Super Flyweight southpaw Blane Hyland, 3-1 (0), #116, of Liverpool, UK, lost to Mohammed Salah Abdelghany, 4-2 (0), #116, of Egypt and Dubai, UAE, over 6 rounds.
In the second round Abdelghany continued his bull rushes having the taller Hyland into the ropes saving him from a knockdown. In the Hyland used his jab well but did too much holding. In the fourth Abdelghany rocked Hyland with a right on the chin in the final minute. In the fifth round Abdelghany rocked Hyland with a pair of rights on the chin on several occasions. In the sixth and final round instead of using his jab seemed all Hyland did was grab.
Scores were 58-57 and 58-56 same as this writer.
Super Lightweight Faizan Anwar, 5-0 (4), #152, of Calcutta, India, easily defeated JR “Buakaw” Mendoza, 11-20 (5), #152, of Tanza, PH, over 6 rounds.
In the first four rounds the taller southpaw Anwar controlled with his jab following with left’s to the chin of Mendoza. In the fifth round Anwar pushed Mendoza down and the referee counted as a knockdown. In the sixth and final round Anwar continued the shutout going the distance for the first time.
Scores were 60-53 as did this writer.