Former IBF and WBA World Super Bantam Champion Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliyev (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 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 the 12-round contest to win the interim WBA belt. The stoppage time was 2:59 of the third.
In the first round, returning after a year, Akhmadaliev had a slight edge landing a few hard lefts to the chin of Espinoza. Both shot well in the second round. In the third round, at halftime, Ahmadaliyev took the lead with a left on the chin, earning an 8-count knockdown by referee Jean-Robert Lane.
With a minute left, Ahmadaliyev landed a left, and when he backed up, Espinoza fell forward to the canvas for a second knockdown and another 8-figure. In the final seconds, Ahmadaliyev’s left left Espinoza for the third time, and referee Laine waved it off.
2020 Olympic southpaw Cheavon ‘C4’ Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs) lost a 12-round split decision to EBU Silver Champion Leonard ‘The King’ Moscue (16-0, 9 KOs) in a fight for the vacant EBU title in cruiser category. ). Clarke, 34, was knocked out by Moscow in the first round.
In the first round, Moscuea landed a dozen unanswered punches after forty seconds and dropped Clark for an 8 count from referee Jon Lona Fernandez. In the second and third rounds, Clarke came back well, playing two close rounds in the match. In the fourth round, Moscuea came back well and took the round.
From rounds six through nine, she went back and forth, landing bombs from both fighters. In the tenth round, Clark had his best round. This 12-round should be a 10.
In the eleventh round, Clarke had the upper hand with a solid jab as Moscuea was tiring. In the twelfth and final round, Clarke got the better of Moskue in a close and good fight between two undefeated fighters.
The scores were 117-113 for Clark, 116-112 and 115-112 for Mosquera.
#5 WBA lightweight contender Gary Culley (18-2, 10 KOs) lost to former IBO world lightweight champion, southpaw Massie Hughes (28-7-2, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision over 10 rounds. Culli suffered a cut over his right eye in the fifth round and had to deal with bleeding in the second half.
The first three rounds were all action from both southpaws. Using his reach, the taller Culli mostly lands his jab as Hughes steps in, landing both hands with an edge. Culli starts going to the body in the fourth round and Hughes counters.
In the fifth round, it was all Hughes with a left to the chin, rocking Khali several times. In the sixth round, after half a minute, Kali received a large cut on his right eyebrow. By the end of the round, his face was a mask of blood. The referee advised Culli that he could be stopped with one more round 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 the messenger Cali. In the ninth round, Hughes outscored Cooley two to one.
In the tenth and final round, Hughes may have delivered the shutout. Give Culla credit for going the distance with a bad cut for five rounds.
The referee was Michael Hook. Scores 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90.
IBF world champion, two-time Olympian and 2024 Olympic silver medalist Beatriz ‘The Beast’ Ferreira (6-0 (2 KO)) defeated former EBU champion Licia Bowders (23-3-2, 4 KO) over 10× 2 rounds.
In the first round, referee Diana Drews Milani warned Bowders twice for holding and using her head, but Ferreira won the round easily. Ferreira used a good right uppercut from rounds two through seven, taking each round and drawing a nosebleed in round six.
In the eighth round, referee Milani cautioned Ferreira for striking on the break. Frustrated, Ferreira landed a powerful body attack with another round to go. Ferreira sent Boudersa into the ropes in the ninth round as Boudersa’s corner was ready to throw in the towel. Ferreira dominated the tenth and final round, turning south and finishing strongly.
The scores were 100-90, 100-90 and 100-90.
2024 heavyweight Olympian Tevero Teremoana 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 combination to the chin from Terremoana dropped Katsuk with the 8-count by referee Jean-Robert Lane a minute into the round. Soon after, he descended for the second time. After the third knockdown, referee Laine stopped everything in the first round.
The ring announcer was David Diamante.