Ren: Magomed Ismailov vs. Olanrewaju Durodola & Rashid Dautovich Kodzoev vs. Lenar Pérez Fransua RBR

Top of the hour.

(prelims kick off at 1900 local time in Moscow - or 11am EST - with the main card, a mix of pro boxing and showcase bouts for MMA stars that may be sanctioned or exhibitions, airing on Ren TV from 3pm EST)

https://ren.tv/live
(enable Vee)

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...how's that for a clarion roll-call?

 

Ismailov vs. Durodola is, to my best knowledge, while not listed on the BoxRec page for this event, indeed a sanctioned professional boxing match and will be Ismailov's debut. He is 17-3 in pro MMA, with his most notable achievement probably a TKO victory over countryman Alexander Emelianenko (kid brother of GOAT candidate Fedor).

More familiar to boxing fans of course is the Nigerian glass cannon nicknamed "God's Power", who is 37-9 with 34 of his victories and seven of his defeats coming by stoppage. He is 41 years old and has triumphed just twice outside the African continent in the more than six years since he knocked out then unbeaten Dmitry Kudryashov in a bones-making upset.

The status of some of the fights being co-featured is a bit murkier, involving other MMA crossovers who may or may not officially be making their pro boxing debuts. For all intents and purposes, I'm considering Kodzoev vs. Fransua the co-main event although it may be further down the bill than in the penultimate slot. The cruiserweight eight-rounder sees a Russian and Cuban prospect each anteing up their zeroes.

 

It kind of feels a little dirty even supporting any Russian endeavor at the moment, even if just with viewing traffic with it being free.

Can't say no to live prizefighting, though. Moth to flame.

 

Looking forward to Kodzoev vs. Fransua most, although of course the headline act has its trainwreck appeal with the promise of a short and violent shootout.

Neither of the undefeated cruisers were terrific amateurs or anything, but they were both part of strong national programs and racked up plenty of high-level experience versus internationally successful talents (ie Arslanbek Makhmudov & Sergey Kuzmin for Kodzoev, and Dainier Pero & Willy Hutchinson for Fransua) but in losing efforts.

 

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Found this on event promoter Vlad Hryunov's page on Facebook:

"On February 25, in the undercard of the tournament 'Fighting Club REN TV' students of boxing schools CSKA and "Spartak". The matches will be held ahead of the main derby of the country.

In total, there will be four fights in the format of four rounds. Couples be like:

Weight category up to 60 kg - Murodjon Abduvaliev ("Spartak") - Vladimir Strigin (CSKA);

Weight category up to 86 kg - Vladimir Orekhov ("Spartak") - Rajab Rajabov (CSKA);

Weight category over 90.7 kg - Vladislav Komarov ("Spartak") - Elbrus Akperov (CSKA);

Sergey Manzhuev ("Spartak") - Khozhiakbar Mamakov (CSKA).

After this confrontation, viewers will see the main fights of the boxing show."

I know enough Cyrillic letters to recognize the names Vladimir Orekhov and Rajab Rajabov from the onscreen graphics in the 4-rounder that just wrapped up.

 

Vladislav Komarov vs. Elbrus Akperov, 4 rounds @ cruiserweight

 

Komarov is the kid with the rounder, more babyfat-laden face, in red trunks, fighting southpaw. Pretty sure the tale of the tape graphic said he's 19. Akperov is four years older and has far more amateur experience (he went 16-12, while Komarov only had a pair of fights and split them).

 

Decent skill level for both of them being debuting novices, but they have fought a moderate pace and both already seem a little gassed halfway into the second. Leading to some fun exchanges between the inevitable collapsing into clinches, however. Both loading up and landing wide bombs.

 

Komarov (and to a lesser extent Akperov) still retains that amateurish "barking while punching" habit.

 

Komarov looking to end it on a single big left hand, catapulting them repeatedly on the frontfoot, but getting clinched and knuckled in the side of the head while held, or peppered with counters in combination, face marked up and swollen in several places.

This is an ugly rumble with heavy shots landing both ways, but the youngster is decidedly getting the worst of it and seems likelier to be stopped IMO. (even if just on cuts/damage...but then again, we only have a round left to get through so maybe the clock is on his side, for averting the ignominy of getting halted anyway)

 

Haymakers until the final bell.

Twas a tidy little slugfest, all considered. I've seen far more disheveled stuff, from combatants that weren't both making their maiden voyage.