Tech Port Arena, San Antonio, USA. The record holder from Uzbekistan, the unified champion of the second bantamweight (up to 55.3 kg) Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs), confidently coped with the mandatory challenger from the WBA American Ronnie Rios (33-4, 16 KOs).
The challenger started the fight well: he moved well, jabbed clearly, punched right straight through the body. The left-handed champion at times successfully counterattacked the jab, did not act as sweepingly as usual. In the 3rd round, he coolly intercepted Rios’s attack with an uppercut, shocked the American, but failed to finish it off.
In the 4th three-minute period, the American got even harder, he had to switch to survival mode and deliberately hit below the belt. Akhmadaliev countered the jab with a great right hook, dangerously punched through the body. He could have delayed it, but he turned on the signature sweep and kneaded the air a little with his fists. Rios decently got from the coach.
The American tried other options. Like counterattack. He needs something else: aggressive pressure. But, firstly, it is much inferior in footwork. And secondly, I already felt the power of the champion’s fists, did not keep up with his movements, was shocked by the angles of attacks.
So much power in those shots #AkhmadalievRios | #RodriguezRungvisai pic.twitter.com/Nv5gAzaC8U
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 26, 2022
Rios earned more aggressively immediately after the equator. At some point, it even seemed that Akhmadaliev had problems with his left hand – he moved more and more often and used only the jab. In the 10th round, the challenger immediately rushed to the attack: he hit with a right hook, added to the body, forcing the champion to cycle. But this is the maximum second round that can be given to him – only a knockout will help Rios.
There were no attempts to go for broke. Akhmadaliyev pushed hard in the final round, forced the challenger to take a knee with blows to the body. He reluctantly continued the fight, but a minute before the final gong, the referee stopped the beating.
NO MERCY from Akhmadaliev #AkhmadalievRios | #RodriguezRungvisai pic.twitter.com/lpiRXnAMz7
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 26, 2022
Akhmadaliyev TKO 12.
In the meantime, we recall what the owner of the remaining belts in this weight said Fulton after Roman’s declassification: “I only need Akhmadaliev”.
American on social media writes: “Don’t care” and “Dude, let’s do this fight.”
