Artur Subkhankulov hangs first loss on Bakhodur Usmonov

Artur Subkhankulov improved to 12-0 (6 KOs) after a 12^th-round win over previously-undefeated Bakhodur Usmonov.

They met in an IBF lightweight eliminator at the IBA Pro 17 show in Ufa, Bashkortostan, and Usmonov – floored four times – dropped to 12-1 (5 KOs).

Usmonov started quickly but Subkhankulov's left hand started to play an important role in the third.
Then, in the 10^th, when it seemed Usmonov might be able to open up a lead, he was dropped twice. Usmonov was down again early in Round 11 and Subkhankulov remained in hot pursuit and Subkhankulov broke through again in the last, dropping Usmonov – who defeated English veteran Maxi Hughes on points in his previous fight – once more before the referee waved the bout off.

Earlier on the card, world-ranked junior-welterweight contender Khariton Agrba – the WBA’s No. 1 – outscored Filipino test Jerald Into over 10 rounds.

At 140lbs, Oktyabrskiy’s Azalia Amineva captured the WBA Asia title with a clear unanimous decision win over Nigeria’s Cynthia Ogunsemilore after eight rounds.

At heavyweight, Teymuraz Surov halted Russian compatriot Bekkhan Israilov

inside two rounds. They had boxed as amateurs – with Surov winning then, too – and a right hand sent Israilov to the deck in the second and Surov swarmed in to finish the job with the loser’s corner throwing in the towel.

Unbeaten welterweight prospect Danis Gabdrafikov is now 14-0 following a decision over tough Kazakh Rakhat Seitzhan in a 10-rounder.

Russian prospect Ruslan Selimyan is also now 14-0, after Namibia’s Nathanael Kakololo was forced to retire in the fourth round due to a shoulder injury, which he suffered during a fall.

In the opening bout of the evening, decorated former amateur star Karen Soloviev took two rounds to stop fellow Russian Ilyas Naibkhanov at welterweight. Naibkhanov was down three times in all.