WBA Gold super featherweight Mark Urvanov (19-2-1, 10 KOs) got the most he could possibly get of his eight-round mix-weight collision with South African Rofhiwa Maemu (19-12-3, 12 KOs), winning a unanimous decision in a rough non-title fight.
Urvanov vs. Maemu was the main event of the night, promoted on Saturday night, June 26, by the RCC Boxing Promotions and German Titov at the RCC Boxing Academy in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The original main event that was scheduled to take place, before Maemu came in as a late sub, would have seen Urvanov fight WBA #13 Venezuelan veteran import Angel Rodriguez, but it fell through when Rodriguez failed to obtain visa.
Maemu, 29, has been fighting in Russia since April 2021, and that was his third consecutive fight. He had weighed-in well over the lightweight limit, while Urvanov, 25, barely got past the 130lb limit. It didn’t affect the Russian though as he pressed the action against the South African from the start. Maemu replied with some sneaky body jabs but otherwise was too lame and too lazy to trouble Urvanov.
Yet, the African had some moments in the middle rounds, rocking Urvanov a bit with and overhand left in round three, and again in the sixth. The Russian took it and responded with several shots of his own. Both fighters were also aggressive in the closing rounds but Urvanov looked to a bit more polished. BoxingScene saw it 78-74 – for Mark “Canelo” Urvanov.
Undercard:
Two unbeaten lightweights collided for an obscure WBO Asia Pacific Youth 135lb title, and Kiev-based Armenian Zoravor Petrosyan (12-0, 5 KOs) came out as the winner with the third-round stoppage of determined Uzbekistani import Shukrulla Vokhidov (6-1, 4 KOs).
Aggressive Vokhidov, 23, who was fighting for the first time out of his native land as a pro, started very confidently, pressing action against Petrosyan in round one. The Ukrainian-Armenian was mostly defensive and took some good shots in the first.
Petrosyan, also 23, did better during the second half of the second round, when Petrosyan caught Vokhidov off-guard with a couple of overhand right hands. The fight was just coming into its own, when Petrosyan connected with a hardly visible left jab to the beltline of Vokhidov early into the third. The Uzbek fighter took a knee on a delayed action and was counted out by referee Irakly Malazonia at 1:12.
Former middleweight amateur standout Vadim Tukov (4-0, 1 KO) continued his professional education with a very hard-fought, fan-friendly majority decision over fellow undefeated Ivan Nikonov (5-1, 1 KO) in a scheduled eight-rounder. Nikonov was working well and gave fits to Tukov before the mid-point. Vadim Tukov took the initiative and utilized his amateur experience to edge Nikonov in the later rounds.
Super bantamweight Evgueny Lyashkov (9-2, 2 KOs) was forced to work extra hard to decision tough Russia-based Uzbek Mirzamukhammad Khikmatullaev (8-4, 5 KOs). Lyashkov was better during the first half of the fight, pressuring his opponent and forcing him to fight off the ropes. Khikmatullaev adjusted well and worked his way back to the fight during the second half but it was enough only to earn a draw on one of the judges’ scorecards. The other two preferred Lyashkov for a majority decision.
Other results:
Georgy Yunovidov (2-0, 1 KO) TKO 2 Otabek Mirzakhmedov (1-1). Yunovidov broke Mirzakhmedov’s nose in round one and finally put him on a knee for a count with a right hand. Time of stoppage was 2:27.
Alexander Dorofeev (3-0, 1 KO) UD 4 Abboskhon Mirzaabdullaev (1-1).
Sayan Kertik ool (0-0-1) D 6 Karen Margaryan (3-0-2). Kertik ool was deducted a point by referee Irakly Malazonia in round five for hitting below the beltline. Margaryan was also deducted a point for the same violation in the sixth round.