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With a last minute pull-out from
the original opponent, French
Champion Bastien Rozeaux, it was
nerve-wrecking to the end if a
suitable substitute would be
found to fight Timur Akhundov
for the vacant World Boxing
Federation World Featherweight
title on Saturday (March 30) in
Kiev, Ukraine.
In came Belarusian national
champion Khavazhy Khatsyhau, who
was fit and ready as he was
already in training for a bout
on the same day, and the visitor
didn’t just come to Ukraine to
make up the numbers, he made a
proper effort and gave Akhundov
plenty to think about.
However, Akhundov was clearly
the more skilled of the two and
won most rounds by boxing
beautifully with quick
combinations and excellent
movement, while Khatsyhau often
played the waiting-game and
attempted to find that one
knockout-punch to end it all.
The contrast in styles made for
a very entertaining bout, and
Akhundov enjoyed plenty of
support from the crowd at the
packed AKKO International arena
in his hometown. But after
twelve rounds of boxing there
was no doubt who won, and the
unanimous verdict deservedly
went to the local man.
Judges Jean-Marcel Nartz and
Vladislav Babaian scored it
117-111, while Oleg Kuderov had
it 119-109.
With the victory the new world
champion improves his
professional record to 15-2-1
(5), while the game Khavazhy
Khatsyhau drops to 10-2 (6). The
fight was promoted by Oleg
Bruskov and his Global
Box-Promotion. |
