Former IBF & WBA World Super Bantam 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 WBA interim 122-lb title on Saturday night at the 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 time of the stoppage was at 2:59 of the third.
In the first round, coming back after a year, Akhmadaliev had a slight edge landing from southpaw several solid lefts to the chin of Espinoza. Both had landed solid shots in a close round in the second. In the third round, at the halfway point half, Akhmadaliev landed a lead left on the chin, scoring an 8-count knockdown from referee Jean Robert Laine.
With a minute remaining, Akhmadaliev landed a left, and as he backed away, Espinoza fell forward to the canvas for a second knockdown and another 8-count. In the final seconds, a left from Akhmadaliev dropped Espinoza for a third time, and Referee Laine waved it off.
2020 Olympian southpaw Cheavon ‘C4’ Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs) lost a 12-round split decision to EBU Silver champ Leonardo ‘The King’ Mosquea (16-0, 9 KOs) in a battle for the vacant EBU cruiserweight title. ). Mosquea dropped Clarke, 34, in round one.
In the first round, Mosquea landed a dozen unanswered punches after forty seconds and dropped Clarke for an 8-count from Referee Jon Lona Fernandez. In the second and third rounds, Clarke came back well, taking two close rounds in a slugfest. In the fourth round, Mosquea came back well, taking the round.
In the sixth through the ninth rounds, it went back and forth, landing 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 edge with a solid jab as Mosquea was tiring. In the twelfth and final round, Clarke outworked Mosquea in a close and good fight between the two unbeaten fighters.
Scores were 117-113 for Clarke, 116-112, and 115-112 for Mosquera.
#5 WBA lightweight contender Gary Cully (18-2, 10 KOs) lost to former IBO World Lightweight champion southpaw Maxi Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) by a 10-round unanimous decision. 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 were all action from both southpaws. Using his reach, the taller Cully mainly lands his jab while Hughes comes in, landing with both hands having an edge. Cully starts going to the body in the fourth round, and Hughes counters him.
In the fifth round, it was all Hughes with overhand lefts to the chin, rocking Cully several times. In the sixth round, after half a minute, Cully suffered a bad cut on his right eyebrow. By the end of the round, his face was a mask of blood. The referee advised Cully it could be stopped with another round like it.
In the seventh round, Hughes had two minutes to re-open the cut. In the eighth round, after half a round, Hughes knocked out the mouthpiece of Cully. In the ninth round, Hughes outlanded Culy two to one.
In the tenth and final round, Hughes may 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.
IBF World Light champion, Two time Olympian, and 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist Beatriz ‘The Beast’ Ferreira (6-0 (2 KOs) pitched a shutout defeating former EBU champ Licia Boudersa (23-3-2, 4 KOs) over 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 uppercut from the second through the seventh rounds, taking every round and drawing blood from the nose in the sixth round.
In the eighth round, referee Milani warned Ferreira for hitting on the break. Frustrated, Ferreira landed a strong body attack, taking another round. Ferreira drove Boudersa into the ropes in the ninth round as Boudersa’s corner was ready to throw in the towel. Ferreira dominated in the tenth and final round, turning southpaw and fining strong.
The scores were 100-90, 100-90, and 100-90.
Heavy 2024 Olympian Tevero Terremoana Jr (5-0, 5 KOs) stopped Volodymyr Katsuk (5-2, 2 KOs) at 2:04 of the first round of a scheduled six rounds.
In the first round, a combination from Terremoana on the chin dropped Katsuk for an 8-count from Referee Jean Robert Laine a minute into the round. Shortly after this, down he went for a second time. After a third knockdown, Referee Laine called a halt all in the first round.
The ring Announcer was David Diamante.
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