Rudolf Weber-Arena, Oberhausen, Germany. As part of the show, heavyweight prospect (over 90.7 kg) Zhan Kosobutsky (19-0, 18 KOs) from Kazakhstan beat the German Hussein Mukhamed (17-1, 13 KOs). The WBC International title was on the line.
Left-hander Kosobutsky did not force things, he studied his opponent. He acted sweepingly and at times collapsed behind the blows. 30 seconds before the gong, the Kazakhstani hit the underdog’s body twice, and he immediately took a knee. Muhamed unexpectedly almost won back the episode – he caught an unbalanced opponent with a right hook. The ropes saved Kosobutsky from falling.
A few seconds before the end of the 2nd round, Kosobutsky again sat the opponent on his knee with a blow to the body. In the three-minute #3, Mukhamed fell twice more after the badipunches, looked so exhausted that one could even think that he was slightly overacting.
After the third fall in the 3rd round, the referee stopped the fight.
Kosobutskiy TKO 3.
The Russian-born heavyweight prospect (over 90.7 kg) Murad Aliyev (6-0, 4 KOs) playing for France passed without a shine the 45-year-old German of Turkish origin Yakup Saglam (46-8, 42 KOs).
Boxing was minimal. But there was enough fighting. The fight took place in the clinch. The veteran underdog was unlucky – he immediately got a cut. In response, he began to butt Aliyev, leaving a mark on his cheekbone. For moments, Saglam, exhausted, stood at the ropes and invited the favorite to fight, provoking with shouts and clowning around.
The referee kept looking for an excuse to stop the unspectacular fight. And he did it in the 6th round. Apparently, he decided that Saglam’s cut was too solid.
Aliyev TKO 6.