Former IBF/IBO light welterweight champion Eduard Troyanovsky (27-2, 24 KOs) is back to the ring after a year of inactivity. Troyanovsky, an aging yet powerful 39-year old knockout artist, will star at the beginning of a new series of promotions, co-organized by Al Siesta and Zyaki Yunisov and bannered “The Knockout Kings”.
On November 14 at the AZIMUT Hotel in Saint Petersburg, Russia, he is taking on Czech import Josef Zahradnik (11-3, 6 KOs) in what can be a step of the Russian’s last championship rally. Troyanovskiy was last seen in the ring in October 2019, losing a relatively close decision to then WBA champion Kirill Relikh in the quarterfinal of the second season of the World Boxing Super Series. Zahradnik, 33, has never been stopped to this point.
Two Eurasian Boxing Parliament titles were contested on a Saturday night in Riga, Latvia, in a couple of the televised fights, involving one local and three Russian fighters.
In a battle of two boxers, who have lost in semi-high profile fights recently, lightweight Pavel Malikov (16-1-1, 6 KOs) just barely edged fellow countryman Isa Chaniev (13-3, 6 KOs) to retain the belt.
Malikov is 2-0-1 since losing to Daud “Cino” Yordan via knockout in April 2018 in what was an elimination fight. Chaniev was stopped in two by Richard Commey in the quest for the vacant IBF lightweight belt this February. In this particular fight, Malikov has scored a majority decision win with the scores: 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114.
In the main event, hard-luck Latvian light heavyweight Ricards Bolotniks (15-5-1, 6 KOs) scored the biggest win of his pro career by dealing 33-year old undefeated Russian Sergey Ekimov (18-1, 9 KOs) his first loss. Bolotniks dominated lethargic Ekimov, who has been fighting very sporadically recently, over twelve one-sided rounds to grab a vacant EBP title. Scores were: 120-108, 120-108, and 119-109 – for the Latvian.
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MTK Global Kazakhstan staged a huge evening of boxing on Saturday at the Gran Park of Almaty, a former capital of the country. There were no widely recognized stars or contenders but rather a handful of talented prospects against semi-rough opposition, mostly from Philippines. Several most notable results are presented below:
Hurshid Tojibaev, a two-time former Olympian for Uzbekistan (Beijing 2008 and Ro 2016) continued his pro rise with a four-round stoppage of Filipino Ivor Lastrilla (11-8-1, 6 KOs). Tojibaev, who debuted in March, is 3-0, 2 KOs. He is competing as a featherweight now.
Nurtas Azhbenov, a 25-year old southpaw lightweight, improved his record to 7-0, 3 KOs, with the first-round stoppage of Alvin Makiling (13-15-4, 3 KOs) of Philippines.
Recently active Abilkhair Shegaliev (7-0, 5 KOs) was forced to work extra hard for a majority decision win over Georgian professional loser Sandro Jajanidze (5-20-1, 3 KOs). Scores were: 80-72, 79-73, and 76-76.
Yelshat Nikhemttola, an ethnic Kazakhstani from China, fought for the first time in his historical homeland and defeated Filipino veteran Ardin Diale (35-15-4, 17 KOs) over eight rounds. Scores were: 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74. Nikhemttola is now 15-0-1, 5 KOs.
Finally, in the card’s only ten-round fight, cruiserweight Yedil Kozhamberdiyev (9-2, 9 KOs) stopped Azerbaijani Kazim Umudov (3-2, 1 KO) in three rounds.
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31-year old former Hungarian Olympian and 2010 European amateur champion Balazs Bacskai stays undefeated after his twelfth professional win, a wide decision win over tough-as-nails Russian journeyman Alexey Evchenko (18-13-1, 8 KOs).
Bacskai, a decorated amateur, who can be on a fast track to important fights at light middleweight and definitely has no time to lose, won 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91 to set his record at 12-0, 6 KOs.
Also on the card, super middleweight Mate Kis (16-0-2, 10 KOs) outpointed Czech import Karel Horejsek (14-11-3, 11 KOs) over eight: 79-72, 78-73, and 78-74.