Beterbiev stops Gvozdyk in 10 to unify Light Heavyweight titles

PHILADELPHIA-– Artur Beterbiev not only kept his perfect knockout streak in-tact, but he unified two light heavyweight titles with an emphatic 10th round stoppage over Oleksandr Gvozdyk to retain his IBF and win the WBC crowns.

It was a close fight with each guy taking turns winning round’s. Gvozdyk was trying to box from the outside where Beterbiev was looking for power shits throughout the fight.

Towards the end of round one, Beterbiev threw Gvozdyk to the canvas. It was initally ruled a knockdown, but state commissioner Greg Sirb ruled a push. Both showed why this fight was viewed as a pick-em fight on paper as the fight was fought at an extreme high-level of class.

The fight started going Beterbiev’s way in round nine as he landed hard shots on a tired Gvozdyk. In round ten, Gvozdyk gave in as he was sent to the canvas three times by the still hard punching Beterbiev, and referee Gary Rosato stopped the bout at 2:49.

Beterbiev, 174.5 lbs of Montreal is 15-0 with 15 knockouts. Gvozdyk, 174,3 lbs of Khartov, UKR is 17-1.

“We work in the gym We work hard, and we have some targets,” Beterbiev said. “My first target, second target and other one comes soon.

“It doesn’t matter {who I fight next.} Anyone. I’m focused on title, not on name.”

Kudratillo Abdukakhorov won a 10-round unanimous decision over former world champion Luis Collazo in a welterweight bout.

In round eight, Collazo started to bleed from around the left eye. In round nine, Collazo suffered a nasty cut over his right eye, and the bout was stopped.

When the scores were announced, it was Abdukakhorov won by 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93, and is now 17-0. Collazo, 146.4 lbs of Brooklyn, NY is 39-8.

“I am the IBF No. 1 contender, and I would like to fight for the title fight next,” Abdukakhorov said. “I wanted to fight Errol Spence Jr., but unfortunately he got in a car accident. I wish him a speedy recovery, and if he’s ready to fight soon, I would like to fight him. If he has to vacate the title, then I will fight whoever they put in front of me.”

Collazo injured his biceps in the fifth round and was unable to throw his left hand much throughout the second half of the fight.

“Hey, it is what it is. This is part of the sport,” Collazo said. “We’ll see what’s next.”

Sonny Conto remained perfect by stopping Steve Lyons after round one of their four round heavyweight bout.

Conto won the 1st round, and Lyons did not come out after the round.

Conto, 214.1bs of Philadelphia is 5-0 with four knockouts. Lyons, 201.9 lbs of Louisiana is 5-6.

Jospeh Adorno scored an explosive 2nd round stoppage over Damian Sosa in a scheduled eight-round lightweight bout.

In round one, Adorno decked Sosa with a hard right. Adorno finished the fight a round later when he hammered Sosa to the ground along the ropes and the fight was stopped at 1:39.

Adorno, 136.8 lbs of Allentown, PA is 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Sosa, 134.7 lbs of Argentina is 9-3.

Julian Rodriguez scored a hard one-punch knockout over Leonardo Donorio in the 6th and final scheduled round of their super lightweight fight

Rodriguez leveled Donaorio with a vicious left hook that sent him to the canvas. Donorio got to his feet, but referee Benjy Esteves stopped the bout at 2:29.

Rodriguez, 142.6 lbs of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ is now 18-0 with 12 knockouts. Donorio, 139.4 lbs of Philippines is now 17-17-3.

Jeremy Adorno won a four-round unanimous decision over Misael Reyes in a super bantamweight bout.

In round two, Adorno dropped Reyes with a hard counter left uppercut off the ropes.

Adorno, 121.1 lbs of Allentown, PA won by scores of 40-35 twice and 38-37 to raise his perfect mark to 3-0. Reyes, 121.2 lbs of Kansas City is 1-3.

Josue Vargas won an eight-round unanimous decision over Johnny Rodriguez in a super lightweight bout.

Vragas, 140.2 lbs of Bronx, NY won by scores of 80-72 on all cards, and is now 15-1. Rodriguez, 140.5 lbs of Denver is 9-5-1.

Michael Seals needed jut 98 seconds to obliterate Elio Trosch in their scheduled eight-round light heavyweight bout.

Seals landed a powerful right hand that sent Trosch down for the count.

Seals, 174.6 lbs of Atlanta is 24-2 with 18 knockouts. Trosch, 173.2 lbs of Santiago Del Estero, ARG is 14-7-2.