T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, USA. Kazakhstani super middleweight (up to 76.2 kg) Ali Akhmedov (19-1, 14 KOs) from the team of Gennady Golovkin (GGG Promotions) scored a landmark victory – he confidently outboxed the ex-applicant from the United States, seasoned gatekeeper Gabriel Rosado (26-16-1, 15 KOs), who is trained by the legendary Freddie Roach. The vacant IBF North American title was at stake.
The underdog had a good start round: he often disturbed the opponent with a left hook, did not concede in a shootout with jabs, hit with an overhand and an uppercut. Akhmedov seemed a little squeezed, but gradually seized the initiative – he did not invest in strikes, he relied on superiority in manual speed, maneuverability and technique.
Coach Jonathon Banks constantly held back the ward. Rosado traditionally looked for opportunities to deliver one knockout punch to the target (most often it was a right through the arm). In the 5th round, Akhmedov shook his opponent with a straight right – he survived. The underdog did a little better in the 7th three-minute round. All other rounds (except, perhaps, the starting one) confidently took the Kazakhstani.
The score of the judges: three times 100-90 in favor of the favorite.
Akhmedov UD 10.
A cool “chess” game turned out for the vacant WBA International middleweight belt (up to 72.6 kg): local prospect Austin Williams (12-0, 9 KOs) confidently beat Briton Kieron Conway (17-3-1, 3 KOs).
The underdog scored the starting rounds, but soon lost the initiative and failed to regain control over the course of the fight, as he was inferior to his opponent both in speed and in power.
As the fight progressed, Williams dropped Conway, but the fight went all the way. The score of the judges: 96-93 and twice 97-92.
Williams UD 10.
