Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, USA. In the IBF semifinal eliminator, Filipino Vincent Astrolabio (18-3, 13 KOs) defeated Russian Nikolay Potapov (23-3-1, 11 KOs) by TKO.
Astrolabio dropped the Russian in the starting seconds of the fight (they say that Potapov had never been dropped before). The referee did not count the knockdown (the blow fell on the back of the head). 20 seconds before the gong, Potapov missed a left counterhook and was on the floor again. This time, the third in the ring counted the knockdown.
Astrolabio sent Potapov to the canvas for the first time in his career at the close of round 1. #AstrolabioPotapov #RiveraMartin pic.twitter.com/Z8BsCjN0w6
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) December 18, 2022
In the next three minutes, the Filipino hit the Russian near the left eye. Potapov has a more solid workrate, so he tries to work ahead of the curve. Both are invested in strikes, but Astrolabio is either more powerful or less vulnerable. Vincent slowly pressed, forced Nikolai to constantly move.
In the 4th round, the referee reprimanded Astrolabio for hitting the back of the head. Next time will be fined. 10 seconds before the gong, the Filipino countered, shook the Russian, but did not have time to finish it off – the gong sounded.
Astrolabio had good uppercuts, countered well. In the 5th round, Potapov missed a blow from below, was greatly shocked and took his knee in time. The Russian looked bad, but managed to recover and continue the fight.
Another knockdown by Astrolabio! #AstrolabioPotapov #RiveraMartin pic.twitter.com/VeP93jfpEt
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) December 18, 2022
In the 6th three-minute Potapov again took a knee. This time he didn’t get to his feet, allowing the referee to count to ten.
Astrolabio TKO 6.
Astrolabio got his chance thanks to the victory over the legendary Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux.
In the preliminary card in the super lightweight limit (up to 63.5 kg), the Americans agreed
Omar Juarez (14-1, 5 KOs) and Austin Dulay (15-4, 11 KOs).
Juarez celebrated the victory despite being penalized three times by the referee during the fight for low blows.
Juarez PTS 10.
In the middleweight limit (up to 72.6 kg) 19-year-old
Elijah Lorenzo Garcia (13-0, 11 KOs) from the USA knocked out a compatriot with a left hook
Crews Stewart (8-2, 6 KOs).
Garcia KO 2.
Also in the framework of the show “eternal challenger” (already 3.5 years in the status of a mandatory challenger from the IBF) from the Russian Federation, a fighter of the first middle weight (up to 69.9 kg) Bahram Murtazaliev (21-0, 15 KOs) outboxed the Mexican
Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (20-4, 19 KOs).
The judges unanimously gave the favorite all the rounds – three times 80-72.
Murtazaliev UD 8.
In the welterweight (up to 66.7 kg) American Kenneth Sims Jr. (19-2-1, 7 KOs) defeated the native of Haiti by technical knockout
Rock Dodler (17-2, 13 KOs).
The Sims TKO 5.
Cuban Olympic medalist Joanis Archilagos (9-1, 4 KOs) outboxed the Mexican
Mario Hernandez (10-4-1, 3 KOs).
The score of the judges is three times 39-37.
Archilagos UD 4.
Source: https://vringe.com/news/161184-obidchik-rigondo-pudosrochil-rossiyanina-v-eliminatore-ibf-video.htm?rand=141343
