Sadriddin Alikhanovich Akhmedov vs. Yohanes Ruba & Aidos Yerbossynuly vs. Lukas Ndafoluma RBR

Round 4

Akhmedov is continuing to work the jab into Ruba's schnoz like a paddle-ball, never missing, sometimes caught on the outer wrist at best when Ruba bothers to put his guard up. Ruba just following Akhmedov everywhere he goes, plodding along knowing there's no point in even throwing a punch until Akhmedov circles himself near a corner and runs short on room. In the open spaces Akhmedov is dancing literal circles around Ruba, cracking him with right hands on the mandibular ramus. Hard underhanded lead rights from outside into the stomach by Akhmedov. Ruba just keeps on cruising in, hoping to land a money shot if Akhmedov makes a mistake.

10-9 Akhmedov

40-36 Akhmedov

 

Just me or does Ruba look a bit like Mayorga?

 

They just announced WBC open scoring...in Kazakh, so I have no idea what the scorecards were (but we can assume they were for Sadriddin, probably a shutout).

This is for the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council 154lb title, btw.

 

Round 5

Akhmedov is walking Ruba onto big uppercuts after lulling him with a series of nine or ten light (but legally scoring) jabs in a row. Akhmedov really dialing in that uppercut, sneaking it up between Ruba's forearms no matter the distance he starts firing it from, using his feet to close the gap when needed, or twinkle-toeing further away to give it more leverage as the case demands. Ruba for his part is having by far his best round, actually taking some chances and punching simultaneously when Akhmedov is throwing his long punches, coming up and forward off his toes and lunging with a line drive right hand that actually grazes the bottom of Akhmedov's chin. Ruba mostly kept at the end of Akhmedov's jab, where he can be skewered by right uppercuts - but just before the bell Ruba marches up close and whips a left hook off the hip and crashes into Akhmedov's cheek.

10-9 Akhmedov

50-45 Akhmedov

 

Wonder if he's a stogie aficionado. Southeast Asia has some good tobacco..

 

Round 6

Akhmedov is really tearing apart the midriff of Ruba now, concentrating a majority of his attacks downstairs. Ruba is laid up on the ropes for a sizable chunk of the round, with Akhmedov just squatting low for extra torque and ripping into him with both hands. Ruba for his part not taking it lightly, pushing Akhmedov off by pool-sticking his right arm, then loading up on HUGE left hooks with his back against the ropes, sometimes just grazing and making Akhmedov grin appreciatively. Ruba is dangerous every time Akhmedov either stops punching or is caught in transition (moving in and out) - taking BIG roundhouse swipes with both hands, looking as if they could probably crush a mailbox like a tin can if he connected on any of them.

10-9 Akhmedov

60-54 Akhmedov

 

For a prospect showcase this actually is a wonderful fight. I'm still pretty salty about missing Nursultan but I'm super glad to have caught this one. Ruba is game as hell. Akhmedov might just be the MVP of the nation's roster of young as-of-yet-unheralded talent.

 

Round 7

Akhmedov is jabbing and moving a bit more now, almost but not quite taking a round off, still working enough to more than outscore Ruba numerically, and his body shots are still the best stuff landing. Ruba is marching patiently in, goal posts up, absorbing the body attack, not even bothering to pick off the jabs bouncing off his nose, but taking his shots where he can, grazing Akhmedov with hooks at mid-range.

10-9 Akhmedov

70-63 Akhmedov

 

Round 8

Akhmedov is dancing around, drawing an invisible-ink henna tattoo covering every inch of Ruba's face with the jab. Akhmedov's defense starting to come a bit unglued when he gets too greedy and drops both arms to his knees while leaning deeply over to his side to sling bombs into the flanks of Ruba, where he is caught by spiteful counter hooks from the Indonesian. When he circles out and uses the jab Akhmedov is able to hit without getting hit, but now he's taking a receipt every single time on the inside.

10-9 Akhmedov

80-72 Akhmedov

 

WBC open scoring announced once more in the 9th. Akhmedov presumably well up.

 

Round 9

Akhmedov shoeshines against Ruba's guard pinning him on the ropes and Ruba blips him with a counter hook to get free. Akhmedov is viciously assaulting the midsection of Ruba, committing fully to it now, eschewing his more effective zone at long-range and looking to double Ruba over with the impact of his two-fisted uppercutting salvos in the basement, leaning his upper half against Ruba's as he works. There is a foul - either a low blow or headbutt, difficult to determine - that hurts Ruba, causing the ref to give him a minute to recover while Akhmedov waits in the neutral corner. They show a replay and I still can't tell. Might've been a low blow and headbutt two-piece actually. Time in. Sloppy rest of the round, hanging onto each other's arms while running around the ring both scrabbling for a body shot.

10-9 Akhmedov

90-81 Akhmedov

 

Round 10

Akhmedov is squaring himself in a neutral stance and throwing huge spearing lefts and right straights from outside. Ruba trudges his way through Akhmedov's blizzard of leather and hurls overhands at him, practically leaping up in desperate attempts to land. Akhmedov turns southpaw and flips some right jabs up off his thigh, backhanded into Ruba's face. Akhmedov continues to circle and pot shot with southpaw jabs. Now returning orthodox, jabbing at mid-range, turning Ruba on a spit, getting closer, big uppercuts downstairs. FOUR OR FIVE HOOKS UP TOP BY AKHMEDOV! He's going for the dramatic late finish. Ruba keeps defending himself, and even winds up a few more big overhand rights off the ropes. Incidental rabbit punch by Akhmedov with just a few seconds left. Ruba complains but the ref says to just finish the fight.

10-9 Akhmedov

100-90 Akhmedov