By Ken Hissner: At Centre Gervais, Auto, Shawinigan, Canada, Friday on ESPN+ Eye of the Tiger presented in the Main Event NABA and NABF Heavyweight champion Russian Arslanbek “Lion” Makhumudov out of Montreal defended stopping Germany’s Michael Wallisch after a pair of knockdowns when Wallisch didn’t come out after the first round.
In co-feature, Montreal’s NABF Middleweight champion Steven “Bang Bang” Butler defeated California’s Joshua “Young Gun” Conley.
In the Main Event, NABA and NABF Heavy champ Russian Arslanbek “Lion” Makhmudov, 16-0 (15), #265.4, of Montreal, Quebec, CAN, stopped Michael Wallisch, 23-6 (16), #234.4, of Munich, GER, after the first of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round, Makhumudov came out looking for a quick stoppage and drove Wallisch to the canvas with a right on the side of the head for an 8-count from Referee Albert Padulo, Jr. Midway Makhumudov lost a point for hitting behind the head. He drove Wallisch to the canvas near the end of the round to a knee. Wallisch didn’t seem he wanted to be in the ring with Makhumudov from the opening bell.
In the co-feature, NABF Middle champ Steven “Bang Bang” Butler, 32-3-1 (26), #159.6, of Montreal, CAN, defeated in a close fight over Joshua “Young Gun” Conley, 17-5-1 (11), #159.6, of San Bernardino, CA, over 10 rounds.
In the first round, both had their moments, with Referee Martin Forest twice warning Conley to keep his head up as he came in low. In the second round, Butler landed chopping rights with Conley coming in low while Conley landed left hooks to the body.
In the final seconds, Butler landed one as the bell sounded and was warned by Referee Forest after two close rounds. In the third round, Butler was warned for using his forearm on more than one occasion. Butler had an edge.
In the fourth round, they continued mostly fighting inside in the middle of the ring in a close fight.
In the fifth and sixth rounds, Butler continued with chopping rights to the head of Conley, who came in low with left uppercuts to the body of Butler, splitting the rounds.
In the seventh, in another close round, Butler finished the final half-minute southpaw. In the eighth round, Butler tossed Conley to the canvas getting a warning.
In the ninth round, Butler got away with hitting behind the head without warning. In the tenth and final round, both boxers had their moments in a close fight right to the bell.
Scores were 99-91, 97-93, and 96-94, as did this writer.
Mary Spencer, 7-1 (5), #152.8, of Montreal, CAN, was upset by Femke Hermans, 14-4 (5), #152, of Londerzeel, BELG, over 10×2 rounds for the vacant IBO World Super Welter title.
In the second round, Herman’s landed a left, seemingly dropping Spencer while falling over her to the canvas as Referee Steve St. Germain ruled it a non-knockdown. She drew blood from the nose of Spencer. In the third round, Herman’s continued on the offense backing up Spencer.
In the fourth and fifth rounds, Herman continued going from orthodox to southpaw, getting the better of Spencer. In the sixth round, Herman landed overhand rights to the chin of Spencer, who didn’t seem to have an answer to this but countered and may have taken the round.
In the seventh round, Herman continued getting the better of the action while Spencer came back, taking the eighth round.
In the ninth round, Herman continued landing overhand rights to the head of Spencer. In the tenth and final round, Herman continued outworking Spencer.
Scores were 99-91, 97-93, and 96-94, as was this writer.
Feather southpaw Thomas “The Ghost” Chabot, 8-0 (7), #126 ¾, of Thetford Mines, Quebec, CAN, won in a close decision over Jonathan “Loco” Carrillo Baranda, 4-3-1 (0), #127 ¼, of Cuernavaca, MEX, over six action-packed rounds with both hitting the canvas.
In the first round, a right hook on the chin dropped Baranda for an 8-count claiming he slipped to Referee Yvon Goulet. In the closing seconds of the second round, both landed punches at the same time.
In the third round, Chabot had a small cut on the left eyebrow, possibly from an accidental clash of heads. Baranda took the round. In the fourth round, a left from Baranda on the chin of Chabot in the final seconds knocked him back several steps and almost down.
In the fifth round, midway through an exchange, Baranda landed a right on the chin, dropping Chabot for an 8-count by referee Goulet. Chabot got up wobbly and got dropped again for another 8-count. He was able to get it together in the final thirty seconds, having an edge over Baranda, though with a bloody nose.
In the sixth and final rounds, both had their moments, knowing this may be the difference in the fight in this round. This is worthy of a rematch.
Scores were 57-54 and 56-55 twice, as did this writer.
Super Feather Leila Beaudoin, 8-0 (1), #130 ½, of Levis, Quebec, CAN, defeated Valgerdur Gudstensdottir, 5-4 (1), #130 ¾, of Reykjavic, Iceland, over 6×2 rounds.
In the first two rounds, Beaudoin countered the aggressive Gudsstensdottir taking both rounds. In the third and fifth rounds, there was a clash of heads with no cuts. There were too many clinches for referee Albert Padulo, Jr.
In the sixth and final rounds, Beaudoin having an edge, winning each round for the most part, with both hitting while in the clinches.
Scores were 60-54 and 59-55 twice, as was this writer.
Lightweight Luis Santana, 8-0 (2), #134 ½, of Montreal, CAN, defeated Jonathan Uribe Hernandez, 4-1-2 (1), #134 ½, of Cuernavaca, MEX, over six good rounds.
The first two rounds were very spirited, with both unbeaten boxers mixing it up well, with each taking a round. In the fourth round’s final seconds, both let it all hang out, with Santana’s right to the chin standing out.
In the fifth round, Hernandez kept coming forward while Santana countered even when coming off the ropes.
In the sixth and final round, Hernandez knowing he is a visitor from Mexico, needed a strong finish. Santana used a good uppercut to the body. The referee was Yvon Goulet.
Scores were 60-54 by all judges and 58-56 by this writer.
Middleweight Alexandre Gaumont, 6-0 (4), #159 ½, of Gatineau, Quebec, CAN, stopped Pablo Polanco, 9-12 (3), of Motul, Yucatan, MEX, at 1:45 of the third of a scheduled six rounds.
In the first and second rounds, Gaumont had Polanco down. In the third round, Gaumont had Polanco down and for the count by Referee Steve St. Germain.