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Former IBF and WBA super bantamweight world champion Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) stopped Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) in the third round, scoring three knockdowns to win the title WBA interim 122-pound weight class. Saturday night at Le Casino in Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
In the main event, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Akhmadaliev knocked out Espinoza in the third round of a 12-round contest to claim the WBA interim belt. The stoppage time was at 2:59 of the third.
In the first round, returning after a year, Akhmadaliev had a slight advantage by landing several solid left hands from the southpaw to Espinoza’s chin. Both had landed solid shots in a close round in the second. In the third round, at the halfway point, Akhmadaliev gained a chin advantage, scoring an 8-count knockdown from referee Jean Robert Laine.
With a minute left, Akhmadaliev landed a left hand and, as he backed away, Espinoza fell to the canvas for a second knockdown and another 8 count. In the final seconds, a left hand from Akhmadaliev dropped Espinoza for the third time and was waved off by referee Laine. .
2020 Olympic southpaw Cheavon ‘C4’ Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs) lost a 12-round split decision to EBU Silver champion Leonardo ‘The King’ Mosquea (16-0, 9 KOs) in a battle for the vacant EBU cruiserweight title. . ). Mosquea knocked down Clarke, 34, in the first round.
In the first round, Mosquea landed a dozen unanswered punches after forty seconds and floored Clarke for a count of 8 before referee Jon Lona Fernandez. In the second and third rounds, Clarke recovered well, taking two close rounds in a fight. In the fourth round, Mosquea came back well, taking the round.
From the sixth to the ninth rounds, he went back and forth, dropping bombs from both fighters. In the tenth round, Clarke had his best round. This 12 rounder should be a 10.
In the eleventh round, Clarke had the advantage with a solid jab as Mosquea tired. In the twelfth and final round, Clarke outpointed Mosquea in a good, close fight between the two undefeated fighters.
The scores were 117-113 for Clarke, 116-112 and 115-112 for Mosquera.
WBA lightweight #5 contender Gary Cully (18-2, 10 KOs) lost to former IBO lightweight world champion southpaw Maxi Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision in 10 rounds. Cully suffered a cut over his right eye in the fifth round and had to deal with the bleeding in the second half.
In the first three rounds there was action from both lefties. Using his reach, the taller Cully primarily lands his jab as Hughes comes in, landing both hands with advantage. Cully starts going to the body in the fourth round and Hughes counters him.
In the fifth round, it was all Hughes with left hands to the chin, shaking Cully several times. In the sixth round, after half a minute, Cully suffered a severe cut on his right eyebrow. By the end of the assault, his face was a mask of blood. The referee warned Cully that he could stop him with another assault like this.
In the seventh round, Hughes had two minutes to reopen the cut. In the eighth round, after half a round, Hughes knocked out Cully’s spokesman. In the ninth round, Hughes outscored Culy two to one.
In the tenth and final round, Hughes could have pitched a shutout. Give Cully credit for going the distance with a bad cut for five rounds.
The referee was Mikeal Hook. Scores 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90.
Beatriz ‘The Beast’ Ferreira (6-0 (2 KOs) IBF lightweight world champion, two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic silver medalist pitched a shutout to defeat former EBU champion Licia Boudersa (23-3- 2, 4 KOs) more than 10× 2 rounds.
In the first round, referee Diana Drews Milani warned Boudersa twice for holding and using her head, but Ferreira easily won the round. Ferreira used a good right hook from the second to the seventh round, taking each round and drawing blood from the nose in the sixth round.
In the eighth round, referee Milani booked Ferreira for hitting on the counterattack. Frustrated, Ferreira landed a strong attack to the body and took another round. Ferreira pushed Boudersa into the ropes in the ninth round when Boudersa’s corner was ready to throw in the towel. Ferreira dominated in the tenth and final round, turning southpaw and hitting hard.
The scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90.
2024 Olympic heavyweight Tevero Terremoana Jr (5-0, 5 KOs) stopped Volodymyr Katsuk (5-2, 2 KOs) at 2:04 of the first round of the scheduled six rounds.
In the first round, a Terremoana chin combination dropped Katsuk for an 8 count by referee Jean Robert Laine one minute into the round. Shortly afterward he fell for the second time. After a third knockdown, referee Laine stopped everything in the first round.
The ring announcer was David Diamante.
