Artur Beterbiev retained the IBF/WBC?WBO Light heavyweight tiles with a decisive and destructive seventh round stoppage of former super middleweight champion Callum Smith at The Videotron Center in Quebec City, Canada.
Beterbiev came out with hard flurries, while Smith would occasionally jab and try to work the body. In round three, Smith began to bleed from the nose and swell around the right eye.
In round seven, Beterbiev landed a big right hand that rocked and hurt Smith. The champion followed up with a massive flurry of punches that wilted Smith to the canvas. Smith tried to fight back, but ate six flush shots on the ropes that put him down for a second time. Smith’s trainer Buddy McGirt climbed on the ring apron to signal that he had seen enough of his charge taking abuse and the bout was stopped at 2:00.
Beterbiev, 175 lbs of Montreal is 20-0 with 20 knockouts. Smith, 174.6 lbs of Liverpool, ENG is 29-2.
Beterbiev said, “It’s because of luck. It’s my coach. My team works hard with me, too. Maybe that’s why, too. But I think it’s because of luck.
“We had a couple strategies. We always have more than one. We need to be prepared for several strategies. He gave me a good fight. He stayed strong. Thanks to him. Today, luck is on my side.
“Yes, of course {I want the Bivol fight}. I need another belt. It would mean a lot to me.”
Mbilli destroys Murdock in 6
Top-ranked super middleweight Christian Mbilli battered Rohan Murdock to a pulp as he scored a stoppage after six-rounds of their 10-round bout.
Mbilli landed vicious power punches throughout the fight. He was relentless, especially with the right hand and he landed several shots that were right on the sweet spot.
Mbilli had Murdock in serious trouble in just about every round, and the fight could have been stopped at anytime after the fourth round. Murdock’s corner let him eat huge shots for another six minutes before pulling the plug on the fight after round six.
Mbilli, 167.3 lbs of Montreal is 26-0 with 22 knockouts. Murdock, 167 lbs of Burleigh, AUS is 27-3.
Mbilli said, “Tonight I sent a message. I am the future of the division. That’s what the message was today.
“Canelo is the best. Everyone knows that. But now I want to show that I’m the best in the division. My goal is to fight him. I would do anything to fight him.
“Murdock is strong. He took all of my good punches. But for me, I thought I would finish him in one more round. But his team ended the fight. He’s a good fighter, but I’m the best today.”
Moloney Decisions Sanchez; Retains Bantamweight Title
Jason Moloney retained the WBO Bantamweight title with a 12-round majority decision over Saul Sanchez.
In round three, Moloney was cut around the right eye, which was ruled from a headbutt. The fight was fought a close quarters and fought on the inside. Sanchez was very effective with his work on the inside.
Sanchez took the middle rounds by being agressive. Moloney came on late in the final rounds to eek the fight out by scores of 116-112 twice and 114-114.
Moloney, 117.5 lbs of Melbourne, AUS is now 27-2.
Moloney said, “Saul Sanchez is a warrior. I am proud to be the WBO bantamweight champion, and I was going to do whatever it took to keep my title.
“The era of Mayhem is only beginning. And the fans here in Quebec City were incredible. I felt like I did enough in the later rounds to retain my title.
“I’d love to defend my world title ‘Down Under’ in front of my Australian fans.”
Imam Khataev remained perfect by stopping Michal Ludwiczak in round two in a scheduled 10-round light heavyweight fight.
In round two, Khataev was battering Ludwiczak until a combination that finished up by a right put Ludwiczak. Khtaev continued to batter Ludwiczak until the bout was waved off at 2:17
Khataev, 174.6 lbs of Sydney, AUS is now 6-0 with six knockouts. Ludwiczak, 178.6 lbs of Leszeno, POL is 17-13-1.
In a rematch, Leila Beaudoin won an eight-round unanimous decision over Elizabeth Espinoza in a junior lightweight bout.
Beaudoin, 129.6 lbs of Temiscouata, CAN won by scores of 78-74 twice and 77-75 and is now 11-1. Espinoza, 129.8lbs of Torreon, MEX is 4-6-3.
Wikens Mathieu remained undefeated and won a four-round unanimous decision over Jose Arias Alvarez in a super middleweight fight/
Mathieu, 168.8 lb of Quebec City won by scores of 40-36 and 40-35 twice and is now 6-0. Alvarez, 167.7 lbs of Leon, MEX is 3-2.
Mehmet Unal stopped Dragan Lepei in just 57 seconds of their eight-round light heavyweight bout.
Unal dominated and hurt Lepei until the fight was stopped.
Unal, 177.8 lbs of Montreal is 8-0 with seven. Lepei, 177.7 lbs of Tuscany, ITA is 22-7-2.
Christopher Guerrero won an eight-round unanimous decision over Sergio Barrera in a welterweight bout.
Guerrero, 149 lbs of Montreal won by score of 79-73 twice and 78-4 and is now 10-0. Barrera, 149.6 lbs of Jalisco, MEX is 7-4.
Moreno Fendero stopped Victor Hugo Flores in the opening round of their four-round middleweight bout.
In round one, Fendero dropped Flores with a left hand. Seconds later, Fendero landed a hard combination that put Flores down again. Fendero got to his feet, but then crouched down and the fight was stopped at 2:16.
Fendero, 162.8 lbs of Chartres, FRA is 3-0 with two knockouts. Flores, 162.3 lbs of Pachuca, MEX is 7-3.
