By Ken Hissner: At Montreal Casino, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Friday over ESPN+ Camille Estephan (Eye of the Tiger Management) presented in the Main Event North American Boxing Association and Federation Heavyweight champion Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov defended his titles, scoring a pair of knockdowns but former IBF Inter-Continental champion Carlos Takam more than held his own for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental title over ten rounds.
In the Main Event, NABA and NABF Heavy champ Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov, 15-0 (14), #263.3, of Russia and Montreal Quebec, CAN, defeated former WBC Silver champion Carlos Takam, 39-7-1 (28), #261.4, of Cameroon and Henderson, NV, over ten rounds scoring a pair of knockdowns.
Twenty seconds into the first round, Makhmudov dropped Takam with a right to the chin, receiving an 8-count from Referee Michael Griffin but managed to get to the end of the round. In the second and third rounds, Takam seemed to weather the storm from the knockdown, scoring well in the third.
In the fourth round, Takam did well enough to take the round, outworking Makhmudov with some wild punches. In the fifth round, Takam seemed to have the much larger Makhmudov frustrated.
In the sixth round’s final seconds, an overhand right on the chin from Takam stunned Makhmudov. In the final seconds of the seventh round, Takam missed a right, ending up into the ropes when Makhmudov landed a right to the side of the head, dropping him for an 8-count from referee Griffin.
In the eighth round, Makhmudov was warned for rough tactics by referee Griffin. In the ninth round, Takam kept outworking the much larger Makhmudov.
In the tenth and final round, a right from Takam on the chin of Makhmodov twenty seconds into the round stopped the latter in his tracks. Takam seemed to exploit the unbeaten Russian.
Scores were 96-92, 97-91, and 96-92, with this writer 94-94.
NABF Middleweight champ Steven “Bang Bang” Butler, 31-3-1 (26), #160, of Montreal, CAN, stopped southpaw Mark “The Bazooka” DeLuca, 28-4 (16), #159, of Whitman, MASS, at 1:59 of the second round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the first round, Butler had an edge. In the second round halfway point, Butler landed a pair of rights on the chin and down went DeLuca for an 8-count by referee Steve St. Germain. Upon rising, he was on shaky legs, and referee Germain wisely called a halt.
Featherweight southpaw Martine Vallieres Bisson, 5-2 (1), #124.5, of Ville Lemoyne, Quebec, CAN, lost to Emma “Valkyria” Gongora, 5-2 (0), #124.8, of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone, FR, over 6×2 rounds.
In the second round, a right from Gongora dropped Bisson for an 8-count by Referee Martin Forest. In the third round, after three warnings for hitting behind the head, Gongora lost a point.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Gongora bled from the nose but had two good rounds. In the sixth and final round, Gongora controlled but was deducted another point by Referee Forest, which was questionable.
Scores were 57-54 twice and 58-54 with 57-53 from the writer.
Super Feather southpaw Thomas “The Ghost” Chabot, 7-0 (7), #127.8, of Thetford Mines, Quebec, CAN, stopped Armando Ramirez, 3-2 (0), #126, of El Grullo, Jalisco, MEX, at 1:24 of the second round of a schedule 6 rounds scoring three knockdowns.
In the first round, Chabot landed a solid left to the body with a minute remaining for an 8-count from Referee Martin Forest. In the second round, after a minute, a combination to the body from Chabot dropped Ramirez for an 8-count from referee Forest. Half a minute later, a left from Chabot to the body again dropped Ramirez forcing referee Forest to wave it off.
Super Feather Jean Gardy Francois, 3-0 (2), #129.2, of Montreal, Quebec, CAN, defeated southpaw Andres Sanchez Ramirez, 4-5-3 (2), #129.2, of Gomez Palacio, Durango, MEX, over four rounds.
In the first round, Francois had swelling under the left eye as both slugged it out. In the second round, the swelling opened up a small cut from Francois in two close rounds.
In the third round, Francois started bleeding from the nose in another close round. In the fourth and final round, Francois hurt Ramirez halfway through the round, having him staggering from a right on the chin.
Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37, as did this writer.
Welter Hamza “Taz” Khabbaz, 5-0 (1), #146.6, of Montreal, Quebec, CAN, defeated Jose “Tacho” Gutierrez Bolanos, 2-6 (0), #146.8, of Mexico City, over four rounds.
In the first two rounds, both came out firing punches from the start, with Khabbaz out landing the shorter Bolanos with mostly headshots.
In the third and fourth rounds, Bolanos kept coming forward, showing a lot of determination while taking plenty of punches on the chin, with Khabbaz pitching a shutout. Referee was Albert Junior Padulo.
Scores were all 40-36, along with this writer.