Edwin Rodriguez captured the Monte Carlo Million Dollar Challenge with an explosive 1st round stoppage over tough Denis Grachev at the Salle des etoiles, Monte Carlo, Monaco.
In the first seconds of the fight, Rodriguez went for blood as he launched hayemaker shots that landed on Grachev until a right sent Grachev down in the first minute. Rodriguez continued the assauly as he landed two rights that were followed by a vicious left that sent Grachev down a second time. Rodriguez was all over Grachev as he landed countless shots and battered Grachev until referee Stanley Christodoulou stopped the bout at 2:50 of round one
Rodriguez, 171 1/2 lbs of Worcester, MA wins $600,000 and ups his record to 24-0 with 16 knockouts. Grachev, 171 lbs of San Diego via Russia pockets $400,000 for his troubles and is now 13-2-1
Khabib Allakhverdiev made the first defense of the WBA Super Lightweight championship with an 11th round stoppage over former champion Souleymayne M’Baye
In round two, after a furious exchange, Allakhverdiev landed a right hook to the head that sent M’Baye to the canvas. Allakhverdiev continued to get the better of M”Baye with the challenge being able to get in some decent counters with the right hand.
In the 11th, Allakhverdiev backed M’Baye with a series of punches and a hard flurry against the ropes forced referee Luis Pabon to stop the bout.
Allakhverdiev, 139 3/4 lbs of Russia is now 19-0 with 9 knockouts. M’Baye, 138 3/4 lbs of France is now 40-5-1.
In an action filled Cruiserweight bout, Ilunga Makabu scored a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Dmytro Kucher.
It was Kucher who came out landing the better shots early. The southpaw Makabu started getting into a groove in the middle rounds and he would land some sizzling three and four punch combinations for which Kucher had no answer four. Makabu had a big round eight where he bloodied the nose of Kucher from one of those flurries that was punctuated by an uppercut. Kucher would get in some solid shots and the battled toe to toe up until the final bell.
Makabu, 191 1/2 lbs of South Africa won by scores of 115-114, 115-113 and 114-114 and is now 14-1. Kucher, 198 lbs of Kiev, Ukraine is now 21-1.
Max Bursak retained the European Middleweight title withe a one sided twelve round unanimous decision over Price Arron.
Bursak dominated the bout and dropped Arron in round nine from a hard left hook to the body. Arron was deducted a point for holding in round ten. Bursak came forward and landed many power shots at close range. Arron tried, especially in round twelve but was way behind on the cards and Bursak won by scores of 116-109, 119-106 and 117-108.
Bursak, 159 lbs of Kiev, Uktaine is now 27-1-1. Arron, 159 1/4 lbs of the United Kingdom is now 23-5-1.
