Albert Khanbulatovich Batyrgaziev vs. Albert Gerogalim Pagara RBR

Gadzhimagomedov was a stud in the amateurs, like Subhankulov. This match-up like the last one is pretty uncompetitive - but at least Harth in the past has been a ranked fringe contender (at cruiser) ...not sure BoxRec's current #80 ranked super featherweight Liu ever was.

 

Gadzhimagomedov working up-down, scoring jabs on the face and body of Hakobyan and building combos off that without ever surrendering his advantage in height. Winging left hooks and rolling overhand rights charging are Hakobyan's only meaningful output, and he at best grazes the shoulders with them.

40-36 Gadzhimagomedov

 

Alright, halfway through it's a clean sweep for Gadzhimagomedov. Hakobyan officially needs a KO to lift the belt, or at least some knockdowns - and not only is he not really a big puncher, he's visibly gassed. It's perhaps both a blessing and curse that Gadzhimagomedov hasn't pushed for a stoppage - on the one hand, it well could have meant game over for Hakobyan by now...but on the other there's a slim chance Gadzhimagomedov would have punched himself out and become vulnerable.

 

Not exactly scintillating viewing. Minimal urgency from Gadzhimagomedov. Careful to a fault, considering Harth's barely dangerous.

 

Had just about enough of this... BRING ON THE ALBERTBOWL!

(80-72 Gadzhimagomedov)

 

What is entertaining me far beyond this light spar in the ring is the YouTube comments, which are positively flooded with Pagara supporters chunnering away trash-talking in a mix of Tagalog and English.

One person earlier commented (in somewhat of a non-sequitur) that Casimero is his favorite athlete, let alone boxer, and is better than Muhammad Ali. Never change, Filipinos.

 

Crowd has been polite until now but they're not happy.

 

Good lord this fight blew.

 

Official cards:

...all in Russian but presumably 120-108 x3

UD for Gadzhimagomedov

 

Pinoys losing their ever-loving minds in the chat, talking about some "PacMan 4 Ever!" and spamming pambansang watawat emojis.

 

He could move up and sleep Gadzhimagomedov tbh.

 

Albert Khanbulatovich Batyrgaziev vs. Albert Gerogalim Pagara, 10 rounds @ super featherweight

 

Honestly, even though Walters was world champ at one point and Pagara merely a former intercontinental titlist who's yet to ever contend on the biggest stage - I'm not sure the Pinoy in 2024 isn't a huge step up in class from the Jamaican. The Axe Man is now 38 and has fought and beaten three no-marks since his loss to Lomachenko eight years ago. Pagara meanwhile has only ever lost to César Alfredo Juárez Martinez (back when El Corazón was still dangerous - actually, funnily enough, just a few months before Lomachenko vs. Walters).

The undefeated Batyrgaziev is coming off a savaging of Jonathan Patrick "Jono Carroll/King Kong" Beresford in July. I can't find odds anywhere for him versus either Walters or Pagara, would imagine he would be a long favorite against both. Walters had maybe a ghost of a puncher's chance.

 

Anthems for the ALBERTBOWL underway.