Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, UK. As part of the show, the EBU European champion in the second featherweight (up to 59 kg), a native of Kyrgyzstan, Farukh Kurbanov (19-4, 3 KOs), lost the belt to local prospect Zelfa Barrett (28-1, 16 KOs).
The champion actively started the fight, reworking the passive challenger. He kept an eye on Kurbanov, but he couldn’t hold on to the jab. Barrett switched to work as a counter-puncher: he failed his opponent on his feet, countered with hard hooks, fought off the body, and launched unpleasant uppercuts.
The champion offered a torn pace in response, but still it was not possible to really prepare attacks – the challenger countered, outplayed, punished for mistakes. By the equator, Barrett took the center of the ring and chased Kurbanov around the perimeter. The champion gave up the initiative, hid behind a high block, and less and less often answered blows with blows.
The fight went the whole distance, but was not competitive. It is unlikely that Kurbanov will be given more than 3 rounds. Yes, that is right. Judges score: 120-108, 119-109 and 118-110.
Barrett UD 12.
British Super Lightweight prospect (63.5kg) Dalton Smith (11-0, 9 KOs) beat
Mauro Alex Hassan Peruene (14-6-1, 7 KOs) from Argentina.
Underdog recklessly rushed to the local favorite. He confidently countered Peruene’s sweeping attacks.
Make ’em miss, make ’em pay #SmithPerouene #OgawaCordina pic.twitter.com/Rddk1jNwoa
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) June 4, 2022
With each subsequent round, the Argentine got more and more. In the 6th three-minute period, he visited the canvas, after which he was removed from the fight.
Smith TKO 6.
He’s cool, but it’s time to raise the level of opposition.
