By Alexey Sukachev
Moscow, Russia - WBC #1 / WBO #10 cruiserweight Mairis Briedis (24-1, 18 KOs) scored a workmanlike uneventful unanimous decision over defense-minded, light-hitting, short but durable Frenchman Brandon Deslaurier (11-2-1, 1 KO). No scores were announced.
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Undefeated super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin moved to 7-0, 4 KOs, with the fifth-round stoppage of Gasan Gasanov (15-7-1, 12 KOs).
Gasanov has been aggressively stalking Shishkin in a majority of rounds to no effect. Shishkin was light on his feet and elusive. In round five he stroke with a thunder, putting Gasanov down with a body punch.
Time was 0:34. Shishkin acquired a vacant WBA Continental super middleweight title.
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A vacant IBF International middleweight remained vacant after a tedious but at the same time a hard-fought draw between WBA #10 and WBA Continental champion Magomed Madiev (11-0-1, 4 KOs) and unrated Argentinean upset master Guido Nicolas Pitto (25-5-2, 5 KOs).
Both fighters gave their all but a lack of punching power resulted in a workmanlike, grueling affair. Scores were 96-94, 95-95, and 94-96.
In a major upset, undefeated but hugely untested and inexperienced kayo artist Sergey Vorobiev (7-0, 6 KOs) upset the apple cart of former top-rated prospect Konstantin Ponomarev, outpointing him over ten rounds with a split decision.
Vorobiev was busy early on before Ponomarev surged in middle rounds, bringing heat to the novice. The more experienced fighter used his technique but Vorobiev countered it with his raw power. He also cut Konstantin over his right eye in round six.
Vorobiev had a major round nine, almost stopping Ponomarev but the latter survived and had a solid final round. It didn't help though as only one judge had it for him: 96-94. The other two had it 97-93 and 96-94 - for the new Russian light middleweight champion Sergey Vorobiev.
Ponomarev, previously ranked WBC #10 and WBA #14 at 147lbs and IBF #13 at 154lbs, drops down to 34-1, 13 KOs.
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WBC #13 super featherweight Denis Shafikov earned his milestone 40th win in a workmanlike fashion, besting Filipino journeyman Jhon Gemino (17-11-1, 7 KOs) over ten rounds with a unanimous decision. Shafikov is now 40-4-1, 23 KOs.
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