Ali Akhmedov vs. Ismat Eynullayev & Firuza Sharipova vs. Djemilla Gontaruk RBR

қайырлы таң!

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

Yerzhan Zalilov vs. Aydın Elzhanova, 10 rounds @ super bantamweight

 

This is for the vacant WBC CIS And Slovenian Boxing Bureau (CISBB) super bantamweight title.

 

Zalilov, with a 9-0-1 record and nicknamed "Rocket", was dropped by a body shot late in round 3, did a reverse somersault.

He also is having an incredibly hard time with his opponent, which at first seemed a bit alarming to me being this is a mid-card bout for a minor title in which he seems like the obvious A-side if not heavy favorite, with BoxRec listing him versus "TBA". (meaning as of the editors' last check within the last day or so, there was no opponent announced).

In the other corner, it turns out, is Elzhanova - nicknamed Gatti, with a 4-0 (3) record, who already had been training for another undercard slot (and with his name transliterated differently on BoxRec, as Aidyn Yelzhanov), originally set to face Sergey Dudinsky. It seems they made the bold last minute decision to just toss a pair of unbeaten prospects in together and see where the chips fall.

The result is a good, even match. WBC Open Scoring after 4 rounds:

38-37 Zalilov
38-38
38-37 Yelzhanov/Elzhanova/whatever/The Kazakh Gatti

 

Well, if Elzhanov is the Kazakh Gatti (he does seem pretty exciting and is the one forcing the action to be certain, but I still think it an exceedingly flattering moniker for such a novice..) then Zalilov is the Kazakh Broner.

He keeps trying out the Philly shell while circling, and it keeps proving ineffective. Not everyone can pat their head and rub their own tummy at the same time, nor walk & chew gum simultaneously. Attempting to execute high-level footwork, stay in range, and pull off slick upper-body defensive maneuvers is something very few in the sport's history can pull off, when faced with a competent opponent hunting them down with an even remotely well-developed pressure game. Zalilov is getting busted up on the regular, especially to his body. When he stands in the center of the ring and tries, as Broner often did, to channel the spirit of prime James Toney with his feet cemented and left arm lowered, yanking his chin back, wriggling at the hips, and loosely weaving to either side - he gets tagged up even worse.

 

Oooh, that's a juicy h2h fantasy match-up, actually. Broner vs. Gatti @ 140lbs?

 

WBC Open Scoring through eight:

Judge A: 77-75
Judge B: 77-75
Judge C: 76-75

...all for "the red corner". Well, that would be super helpful if we knew who the red corner is.

 

This is pearls wasted on swine. The crowd in Almaty seems listless, almost bored with this match, but it actually is pretty outstanding for a mid-carder. Think about it, two skilled unbeaten prospects laying it all out for a piece of hardware (any title, however minor) - if this were Stateside, this would have ShoBox main event written all over it.

 

Elzhanova has the line drive right hand to Zalilov's nose dialed in nicely, rocking the Rocket's head back violently over and over with it. He's just missing with counter uppercuts on the inside, too, which I suspect would be powerful enough if they connected to flip Zalilov over like a turtle upended on its shell. Zalilov for his part has abandoned his faux slickness for the most part and is playing to his strengths, firing lightning-strike combos and flitting around, keeping Elzhanova turning, putting up a high guard when between salvos.

KNOCKDOWN! Minute left until the final bell. Elzhanova not really hurt, flash KD, took a straight flurry on his face and momentarily had trouble finding his balance as he was shifting weight between legs, one knee touched canvas and he sprang right up. Could matter on the scorecards, though. In fact, probably will.

 

Round 10 was

This content is protected

.

 

Official scores:

96-93
96-94
96-94

UD for Zalilov