Murat Gassiev Flattens Kubrat Pulev

WBA heavyweight champion Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (32-4 (14) was knocked out by former IBF and WBA cruiser champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (33-2 (26) at 0:56 of the sixth round of a scheduled 12 rounds on Friday night at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

In the first three rounds, Pulev had an edge using an effective jab. In the fourth round, with a minute remaining, Gassiev landed a combination to the chin of Pulev, who was against the ropes. In the fifth round both landed rights to the chin—close round.

In the sixth round, Pulev landed a right and was countered by a left hook from Gassiev on the chin, and down went Pulev for the count from referee Rafael Ramos.

In the co-feature, former two-time Olympian lightweight Bakhodur Usmonov (12-0 (5) pulled out a 12-round majority decision over southpaw WBC Silver champion Maxi “Maximus” Hughes (29-8-2 (6) in a title eliminator.

In the first round, Hughes outlanded Usmonov, taking the round. In the second round, Hughes continued getting the best of the action. In the third and fourth rounds, it was close, with Hughes having an edge with good body shots. In the fifth round, with just a little over a minute remaining, Hughes rocked Usmonov with a left on the chin, winning another round.

In the sixth round, Usmonov had his best round, possibly pulling it out by going to the body of Hughes. In the seventh and eighth rounds, Usmonov again outworked Hughes in two close rounds. In the ninth round, it went back and forth in a close round. In the tenth round, another close one with Hughes getting a second wind after dropping four straight rounds, possibly pulling this one out.

In the eleventh round, another close round back and forth, going into the final round. In the twelfth and final round, both had their moments in what was a close round. Hughes took the first five, and Usmonov took over the next five. Did Hughes do enough in the final two?

The scores were 114-114, 116-11,2, and 115-113. Giuseppe Quartarone was the referee.

IBO World welterweight champion Tulani Mbengi (22-3 (16) was stopped by IBA Pro Continental champion southpaw Madim Musaev, 14-0 (9) at 1:54 of the third round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the second round’s final seconds, Musaev landed a left on the chin, dropping Mbengi for an 8-count from referee Leszek Jankowiak. In the third round, again Musaev knocked down Mbengi with a left as Mbengi tried to get up and fell down again before being waved off by referee Jankowiak.

In a rematch, super lightweight European champion Khariton Agrba (17-1 (9) easily defeated WBA Latino champion Ruben Munoz, 18-3 (14), by a 12-unanimous decision in a WBA eliminator.

In the first round, Agrba, having been stopped by Munoz, kept his hands high with little offense as Munoz chased him around the ring. At the end of the round, Munoz continued following Agrba around the ring when he landed a body shot at the end, taking another round. In the third round Agrba finally started landing punches taking a close round. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Munoz couldn’t cut the ring off as Agrba countered him.

In the sixth round, Munoz suffered a cut on his hairline. Agrba continued backing up and countering Munoz, who lands a few punches. In the seventh round, it was all Agbra landing punches with Munoz not able to catch him. In the eighth round, it continued the same. After the final seconds ended, the round, Agbra landed a right, dropping Munoz after the bell.

In the ninth round, Agbra dominated, landing while retreating, with Munoz landing a few. In the tenth round, Agbra stood his ground in the middle of the ring for a minute, landing punches without return—another round for Agrba.

In the eleventh round, it continued with Agrba countering, landing a few punches, but enough punches to be ahead until ten seconds left, when Munoz finally landed some punches, too little too late. In the twelfth and final round with blood on his forehead, Munoz followed Agrba around, getting countered, losing another round.

The scores were 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108. Guillermo Perez Pineda was the referee.

Welterweight Faizan Anwar (21-0 (9), of Calcutta, IND, Dubai, UAE, won a disputed 10-round split decision over Khuseyn Baysangurov (25-2 (20).

In the first round Baysangurov out worked Anwar. In the second round, Anwar came back holding his own. In the third and fourth Baysangurov came back out working on Anwar. In the fifth round, Anwar rocked Baysangurov with a left on the chin in the first minute.

In the sixth round’s opening minute, Anwar landed a low blow with the referee giving Baysangurov time to recover. The round could have gone either way. In the seventh round Baysangurov out worked Anwar. In the eighth and ninth rounds, at the end, Anwar was holding on.

In the tenth and final round, Anwar should have had a point taken for holding the entire round. Baysangurov looked like a clear winner.

The scores were 97-93, 96-94, and 94-96.

Lightweight Dave “The Hunter” Penalosa (20-2 (12) was knocked out by Russian Daud Alaev, 14-1 (8), after six rounds of a scheduled 10 rounds for the WBA Gold title.

In the first round, Alaev landed a body shot in the final minute, having Penalosa covering up easily, taking the round. In the second and third rounds, more of the same from Alaev. In the fourth round after a minute Penalosa landed his first effective punch a right cross on the chin. In the final seconds, Alaev hurt Penalosa to the body, taking another round.

In the fifth round, Alaev knocked out the mouthpiece of Penalosa, or he spat it out after a minute into the round, since the referee put it back in, not giving it to the corner.

In the sixth round, in the first minute, Alaev landed four punches, and down went Penalosa for an 8-count from the referee. Halfway through the round, Alaev almost dropped him again. In between rounds, the Penalosa corner advised the referee it was over. Laszek Jankowiak was the referee.

Minimum southpaw Yoel Finol (3-0) won a split decision over 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist southpaw Shakhobidin Zoiriv (1-2) by a 10-round decision for the IBA Title.

In the amateurs, they were 1-1. In the first four rounds, Zoiriv had a slight edge in a close fight. In the sixth round, Finol dominated until the final minute of the round.

In the seventh round, Finol’s right eye was almost closed. In the eighth round, Zoirov came back well. In the ninth roun,d Finol had the edge.

In the tenth and final round, both were swinging for all they had, with Zoirov having an edge in a fight up for grabs.

2016 Olympic Gold Medalist lightweight Estelle Mossely (12-0-1 (1) defeated Ellen “Tigress” Simwaka, 13-8-2 (8) by an eight round decision.

In the second round, an elbow in a clinch from Mossely caused a cut on the left eyebrow of Simwaka. In the third round, the aggressor Simwaka ended the round with a left hook to the body of Mossely enough to take the round. In the fourth round, Mossely did enough to outland Simwaka.

In the sixth round, Simwaka went to the body, taking the round. In the eighth and final round, despite her left eye being near closing, Mossely did enough to take a close round.

Referee Maria Petkovic

Middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (12-2-1 (5) defeated Uganda’s Jeremiah “God Power” Sserwadda (12-5-1 (9) by a six-round unanimous decision.

In the first round, Sserwadda dominated with his jab as Walsh’s punches fell short for the most part. In the second round, both landed punches, with Sserwadda having an edge over Walsh. In the third round, Sserwadda took another round, though Walsh was having a better round.

In the fourth round Walsh landed his most effective punch a left on the chin of Sserwadda a minute into the round. The rest of the way, it was close with Walsh taking the round. In the fifth round, Walsh dominated as Sserwadda may have injured his left foot. In the sixth and final round, both had their moments, with Walsh pulling it out with the decision possibly a draw.

The scores were 59-55, 58-56, and 58-56.

Heavyweight Artem Suslenkov, 14-0 (9) knocked out Stanley Wright (14-2 (11) at 1:24 of the sixth round of a scheduled eight rounds.

In the first round, Suslenkov did well until the final minute when Wright turned southpaw and drove him into a corner with a flurry of punches. In the second round, Suslenkov landed a pair of rights to the jaw and back of the head, rocking Wright in the final minute.

In the fourth round, Suslenkov had Wright bleeding from the mouth and overwhelmed by Suslenkov, but able to get to the bell. In the fifth round, Suslenkov, in the final seconds, had Wright out on his feet from a flurry of Punches.

In the sixth round, Suslenkov dropped Wright with a right on the chin for the stoppage for the IBA title. Sergei Zhurkin was the referee.

Cruiserweight David Dzukaev (1-1) lost by an eight-round majority decision to Madiyar Saydrak Himov (2-1 (1).

In the first round, Dzukaev did enough to take the round. In the second and third rounds, Himov outworked Dzukaev. In the fourth round, Himov continued outlanding Dzukaev. After the bell, Dzukaev landed a punch while Himov landed one to the neck.

In the sixth round, Himov dominated the round, turning southpaw, rocking Dzukaev midway with a left to the chin, knocking back the head of Dzukaev. In the eighth and final round, both had their moments in the best round of the fight, with Himov returning to orthodox having a slight edge. Luka Vadilonga was the referee.

Super flyweight, 2016 Olympian Samuel Carmona (14-1 (5) defeated Immanuel Josef (17-5-1 (7) over eight solid rounds.

In the first two rounds, Carmona, switching from orthodox to southpaw and back, had an edge. In the third round, both had their moments, with Josef going to the body and head halfway through the round. Carmona is rocking Josef with an overhand right in the final minute.

In the fourth round, Josef landed a solid left hook to the chin of Carmona at the halfway point, taking a close round. In the sixth round, Carmona had his way until the final minute when Josef landed a left hook to the chin, rocking Carmona.

In the eighth and final round, Carmona seemed to have the edge in a solid round. Julian Botez was the referee.

The Ring Announcers were Alexander Sadokov and Big Mo.