Murat Gassiev flattens Kubrat Pulev

WBA heavyweight champion Kubrat “The Cobra” Pulev (32-4 (14) was knocked out by former IBF and WBA cruiserweight champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (33-2 (26)) at 0:56 of the sixth round of a scheduled 12-round bout on Friday night at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emir.

In the first three rounds, Pulev had an edge with an effective jab. In the fourth round, with a minute remaining, Gassiev landed a combination to the chin of Pulev, who was against the ropes. In the fifth round, both landed rights to the chin—now round.

In the sixth round, Pulev landed a right and was countered by a left hook from Gassiev to the chin, and Pulev went down for the count from referee Rafael Ramos.

In the co-feature, former two-time Olympic lightweight Bakhodur Usmonov (12-0 (5)) scored a 12-round majority decision over southpaw WBC Silver champion Maxi “Maximus” Hughes (29-8-2 (6) in a title eliminator.

In the first round, Hughes beat Usmonov and took the round. In the second round, Hughes continued to get the best of the action. In the third and fourth rounds it was even, with Hughes having an edge with good body shots. In the fifth round, with just over a minute left, Hughes rocked Usmonov with a left to the chin and won another round.

In the sixth round, Usmonov had his best round, possibly pulling it off by going to the body of Hughes. In the seventh and eighth rounds, Usmonov outplayed Hughes again in two straight rounds. In the ninth round, it went back and forth in a close round. In the tenth round, another close one with Hughes getting a second wind after dropping four straight rounds, potentially pulling this one out.

In the eleventh round, another close round back and forth, going into the final round. In the twelfth and final round, both had their moments in what was a close round. Hughes took the first five, and Usmonov took over the next five. Has Hughes done enough in the last two?

The scores were 114-114, 116-11.2 and 115-113. Giuseppe Quartarone was the referee.

Ibo World Welterweight Champion TUTUI MBENGI (22-3 (16) was stopped by IBA Pro Continental Champion, Southpaw Madim Musaev, 14-0 (9) at 1:54 of the Third Round of a Scheduled 12 rounds.

In the second round’s final seconds, Musaev landed a left on the chin and dropped Mbengi for an 8 count from referee Leszek Jankowiak. In the third round, Musaev again knocked Mbengi down with a left as Mbengi tried to get up and fell down again before being waved off by referee Jankowiak.

In a rematch, super lightweight European champion Khariton Agrba (17-1 (9) easily defeated WBA Latino champion Ruben Munoz 18-3 (14) by a 12 unanimous decision in a WBA eliminator.

In the first round, Agrba, who was stopped by Munoz, kept his hands high with little offense as Munoz chased him around the ring. At the end of the round, Munoz continued to follow Agrba around the ring as he landed a body blow at the end and took another round. In the third round, Agrba finally started getting hits and took a close round. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Munoz was unable to cut off the ring as Agrba countered him.

In the sixth round, Munoz suffered a cut to his hairline. Agrba continued to back up and counter Munoz, landing some punches. In the seventh round, it was Agbra who landed the punches with Munoz unable to catch him. In the eighth round it continued the same. After the final seconds ended, the round, Agbra landed a right and dropped Munoz after the bell.

In the ninth round, Agbra dominated and landed while backing away, with Munoz landing a few. In the tenth round, Agbra stood in the center of the ring for a minute and landed punches without a rebound—another round for Agrba.

In the eleventh round it continued with Agrba countering, landing a few punches, but enough punches to be ahead until ten seconds left, when Munoz finally landed some punches, too little too late. In the twelfth and final round with blood on his forehead, Munoz chased Agrba, countered and lost another round.

The scores were 117-111, 119-109 and 120-108. Guillermo Perez Pineda was the referee.

Welterweight Faizan Anwar (21-0 (9), of Calcutta, IND, Dubai, UAE) won a contested 10-round split decision over Khuseyn Baysangurov (25-2 (20).

In the first round Baysangurov outworked Anwar. In the second round, Anwar came back with his own. In the third and fourth, Baysangurov again worked on Anwar. In the fifth round, Anwar rocked Baysangurov with a left to the chin in the first minute.

In the sixth round’s opening minute, Anwar landed a low blow with the referee giving Baysangurov time to recover. The round could have gone either way. In the seventh round Baysangurov outworked Anwar. In the eighth and ninth rounds, at the end, Anwar held on.

In the tenth and final round, Anwar should have got a point because he lasted the whole round. Baysangurov looked like a clear winner.

The scores were 97-93, 96-94 and 94-96.

Lightweight Dave “The Hunter” Penalosa (20-2 (12) was knocked out by Russian Daud Alaev 14-1 (8) after six rounds of a scheduled 10-round bout for the WBA Gold title.

In the first round, Alaev landed a body blow in the last minute, and Penalosa easily covered and took the round. In the second and third rounds, more of the same from Alaev. In the fourth round after a minute Penalosa landed his first effective blow a right cross to the chin. In the final seconds, Alaev hurt Penalosa and took another round.

In the fifth round, Alaev knocked out the mouthpiece of Penalosa, or he spat it out after a minute in the round, as the referee put it back and did not give it to the corner.

In the sixth round, in the first minute, Alaev got four punches, and Penalosa came down for an 8 count from the referee. Halfway through the round, Alaev almost dropped him again. Between rounds, the Penalosa corner advised the referee that it was over. Laszek Jankowiak was the referee.

Minimum southpaw Yoel Finol (3-0) won a split decision over 2016 Olympic gold medalist southpaw Shakhobidin Zoiriv (1-2) with a 10-round decision for the IBA title.

In the amateurs they were 1-1. In the first four rounds, Zoiriv had a slight edge in a close fight. In the sixth round, Finol dominated until the last minute of the round.

In the seventh round, Finol’s right eye was almost closed. In the eighth round, Zoirov came back well. In the ninth round, Finol had the lead.

In the tenth and final round, both swung for everything they had, with Zoirov holding the edge in a battle for the grip.

2016 Olympic Gold Medal Lightweight Estelle Mossely (12-0-1 (1)) defeated Ellen “Tigress” Simwaka, 13-8-2 (8) by eight-round decision.

In the second round, an elbow in a grip from Mossely caused a cut on the left eyebrow of Simwaka. In the third round, the aggressor Simwaka finished the round with a left hook to the body of Mossely enough to take the round. In the fourth round, Mossely did enough to outpoint Simwaka.

In the sixth round, Simwaka went to the body and took the round. In the eighth and final round, despite her left eye being almost closed, Mossely did enough to take a tied round.

Referee Maria Petkovic

Middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (12-2-1 (5)) Defeated Uganda’s Jeremiah “God power” Sserwadda (12-5-1 (9) by a six-round unanimous decision.

In the first round, Sserwadda dominated with his jab as Walsh’s punches fell short for the most part. In the second round, both took blows, with Sserwadda having an edge over Walsh. In the third round, Sserwadda took another round, although Walsh had a better round.

In the fourth round Walsh landed his most effective blow a minute into the round a left on the chin from Sserwadda. The rest of the way it was close with Walsh taking the lap. In the fifth round, Walsh dominated as Sserwadda possibly injured his left foot. In the sixth and final round, both had their moments, with Walsh pulling it out with the decision potentially tied.

The scores were 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56.

Heavyweight Artem Suslenkov, 14-0 (9) knocked out Stanley Wright (14-2 (11) at 1:24 of the sixth round of a scheduled eight-rounder.

In the first round, Suslenkov was doing well until the last minute when Wright turned southpaw and cornered him with a flurry of punches. In the second round, Suslenkov landed some rights to the jaw and back of the head, rocking Wright in the final minute.

In the fourth round, Suslenkov had Wright bleeding from the mouth and overwhelmed by Suslenkov, but was able to get to the bell. In the fifth round, Suslenkov, in the final seconds, had Wright on his feet from a flurry of Punches.

In the sixth round, Suslenkov dropped Wright with a right to the chin for the stoppage for the IBA title. Sergei Zhurkin was the referee.

Cruiserweight David dzukaev (1-1) lost by eight-round majority decision to Madiyar Saydrak Hiddirak (2-1 (1).

In the first round, Dzukaev did enough to take the round. In the second and third rounds Himov knocked out Dzukaev. In the fourth round, Himov continued to land Dzukaev. After the bell, Dzukaev landed a punch while Himov landed one to the neck.

In the sixth round, Himov dominated the round, spinning through the southpaw, rocking Dzukaev halfway through with a left to the chin and snapping Dzukaev’s head back. In the eighth and final round, both had their moments in the best round of the fight, with Himov returning to orthodox with a slight edge. Luka Vadilonga was the referee.

Superflyweight, 2016 Olympian Samuel Carmona (14-1 (5) defeated Immanuel Josef (17-5-1 (7) over eight solid rounds.

In the first two rounds, Carmona, who switched from orthodox to southpaw and back, had an edge. In the third round, both had their moments, with Josef going to the body and head midway through the round. Carmona is shaking Josef with an upper hand in the last minute.

In the fourth round Josef landed a solid left hook to the chin of Carmona at the halfway point and took a close round. In the sixth round, Carmona had his way until the final minute when Josef landed a left hook to the chin and rocked Carmona.

In the eighth and final lap, Carmona looked to have the lead in a solid lap. Julian Botez was the referee.

The Ring Announcers were Alexander Sadokov and Big Mo.