Shamo Boxing: Xurshidbek Gayratjon Ogli Rasuljonov vs. Thembani Baster Hobyani RBR

Both are 21 years old, and both have four pro bouts to date with mixed success. Basirov, a Russian, is 3-1 and his Uzbek southpaw opponent Avazov is 2-2. Both hail from strong national programs but were so-so win-some lose-some amateurs.

 

I fell into an ADHD rabbit hole and missed how that fight ended. Must have been an abrupt stoppage.

MAIN EVENT TIME, SNUCK RIGHT UP!

 

Xurshidbek Gayratjon Ogli Rasuljonov vs. Thembani Baster Hobyani, 8 rounds @ lightweight

 

Round 1

Rasuljonov is pecking with a jab. Hobyani backing up with a squared, rickety stance like a rocking-horse. Rasuljonov trying to trap him in a corner. Unsurprisingly, a quick flurry of hooks topples the unbalanced South African for an early knockdown. Rasuljonov jogging after him, taking long diagonal steps as needed to cut the ring off. Big spearing right hand from Rasuljonov at the bell just grazes. Hobyani mostly in defensive mode, deer in headlights, barely throwing anything but stay-away jabs.

10-8 Rasuljonov

 

Round 2

Rasuljonov is getting blocked with his reach-in jabs up top, so he squats and extends them into Hobyani's exposed body while pursuing. Hobyani skittering around the ring, avoiding the ropes, dropping in loose straight-ish rights on the go to hold Rasuljonov off. Rasuljonov stalking, occasionally springing up from a crouch with quick gazelle hooks a`la RJJ. Hobyani desperately tossing leather to buy himself breathing room, missing with the 1-2 as well as chopping hooks with either hand.

10-9 Rasuljonov

20-17 Rasuljonov

 

Round 3

Rasuljonov is terrifying Hobyani with a variety of goofy looking feints as he presses in, spreading his wingspan out comically wide and flicking each wrist in turn. Hobyani with the four corner defense, shooting out the odd jab, scared as hell. Rasuljonov turns southpaw and peekaboos his way inside, working the body. Hobyani keeping a high guard and consequently getting lit up on his long skinny torso. Rasuljonov intentionally misses a throwaway 1-2 up top and rips the body with a right hook. Hobyani has to be helped to his corner after accidentally almost walking to Rasuljonov's. Boy ain't in his right mind, frightened witless in there and Rasuljonov doesn't even seem to be all that concussive a puncher. First time international travel / bright light jitters I guess.

10-9 Rasuljonov

30-26 Rasuljonov

 

Round 4

Rasuljonov is using more of the watch-the-birdie, here-comes-the-airplane feints as though Hobyani were an infant he was attempting to feed applesauce. Hobyani tries taking some initiative, inching forward, feinting or jabbing and getting Rasuljonov reacting to everything he's doing. Hobyani growing in confidence, trying hooks around the bottom of Rasuljonov's tucked elbow, and some uppercuts inside. Rasuljonov clearly baiting him, setting a trap and Hobyani buying in hook line & sinker. Rasuljonov quickly spins Hobyani against the ropes and before he knows what's happening unloads a barrage. Rasuljonov has his feet set, knees bent, and is just letting rip with left and right hooks to body and head. Ref immediately jumps in to save a petrified Hobyani.

TKO4!!

 

I'll give him this - Rasuljonov is pretty skillful. I still want to see him get his violent comeuppance someday as he steps his competition.

Pissing dirty is bad enough, but dodging accountability for it by just abandoning the auspices of the IBA to enter the far more lax (in terms of testing) realm of Russian professional boxing? Eh, that's a punk move.

Then padding up a record against cab drivers to boot.

 

Co-main is coming on now, weird, Rasuljonov vs. Hobyani was definitely the advertised main event on the poster and Shamo's promotional materials.

 

Azizbek Xusniddin Ogli Tojiev vs. Meshack Ambukege Mwankemwa, 8 rounds @ middleweight

 

Meshack "Smart Boy" Mwankemwa, unlike his fellow Dark Continent export in the other co-feature, is a proven reliably tough customer. Hailing from Tanzania, he's a veteran of 41 bouts with 15 losses by just six by stoppage - and those usually retirements or waveoffs after multiple knockdowns. The only clean out-for-ten KO to my knowledge was at the hands of my buddy (met him at the weigh-in for his fight with Demetrius Andrade), the limited but powerful Namibian banger Walter "Executioner" Kautondokwa.

 

Tojiev came out balls to wall, trying for a KO1. Soon learned it wasn't going to be like that.

Mwankemwa hedgehogged and used lots of rolling in the pocket to make Tojiev mostly hit arms, whether going for head or body. Tojiev secured the round with some hard underhanded slaps on the midsectoin whenever they stepped apart. Mwankemwa very stingy otherwise, but also throwing very little himself.

Next two rounds were a rinse and repeat (crowd came alive for what they thought was a knockdown by Tojiev in the third, but was actually a belly to belly suplex by the ropes ). Cruising toward likely a shutout unless Tojiev gasses and falls apart or miraculously finds the short-circuit button.

 

I kinda wanna party with this DJ if I'm ever in Moscow. Between rounds on this card he's played:

Volbeat
Misfits
Metallica
Duran Duran
Nirvana

...couple of other cool things I'm forgetting.

 

Pretty cool display of sportsmanship in the 5th. Mwankemwa's mouthpiece came out, so after waiting for a lull in the action and backing into a corner he held up a hand imploring Tojiev to give him a moment, then took his eyes off him to gesture at the ref for a break. Tojiev rowed out an arm as though to say "sure dude" - despite the fact that in boxing it is protect yourself at all times and he would have been well within his rights to blast him with a cheap shot before the ref responded.

 

The ring emcee flew through result announcements there, definitely wasn't long enough to read out three separate judges' cards so the reasonable inference is that it was, predictably, a shutout UD for Tojiev. As was expected if he was halfway decent. Mwankemwa takes a lot to stop, but not to beat.