Beterbiev and Mbilli Score Stoppages as Moloney Retains Title
Unified champion Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20KO) stopped challenger Callum Smith (29-2, 21KO), and secured the right to fight for the undisputed crown next.
After getting off to a slow start, Beterbiev started to break down Smith with thudding body shots. He began to use a powerful jab and pressure to force the challenger against the ropes and unloaded powerful shots.
Smith, a former WBC super middleweight champion, showed heart by occasionally landing solid combinations. Yet, Beterbiev’s power was too much as his opponent’s face started to show the damage. He continued to work the jab and focused on the body.
With improved counter punching, Beterbiev landed a perfect counter right hand that put Mundo on wobbly legs. Realizing his opponent was ready to go, the unified champion poured on the offense, landing a barrage of shots that put Smith on the canvas twice.
Smith’s corner had seen enough and stopped the fight. Beterbiev can now head into undisputed against WBA champion Dmitry Bvol, who is a master-class boxer.
Beterbiev showed improvements with the jab, movement, and defense. Yet, Bivol’s skillset is just as good.
CHRISTIAN MBILLI REMAINS UNDEFEATED AFTER STOPPING ROHAN MURDOCK
In a super middleweight showdown, top contender Christian “Solide” Mbilli (26-0, 22KO) made quick work of Rohan Murdock (27-3, 19KO).
It was target practice for Mbilli, who attacked the body with relentless aggression and couldn’t miss with those hooks on the inside. Murdock tried to fight back. Yet, Solide used his physical size to force the Aussie against the ropes and unload a barrage of punches.
At one point, Mbilli landed a right hook that knocked out his opponent’s mouth piece. After landing punishing shots, It was only a matter of time before he stopped Murdock.
After a fifth round that saw him get hit with everything but the kitchen sink, Murdock’s corner threaten to stop the fight. At the end of the sixth round, his corner stopped the fight and put an end to the massacre.
Ranked number one by both the WBC and WBA, Mbilli, with this win could find himself standing across from the undisputed champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
JASON MOLONEY RETAINS THE TITLE AGAINST SAUL SANCHEZ IN A WAR
In his first title defense, WBO bantamweight champion Jason “Mayheim” Moloney (27-2, 19KO) went to war in a successful title defense against Saul “The Beast” Sanchez (20-3, 12KO).
Sanchez took control of the fight early by using pressure, counters, and good body shots that had Moloney off balance.
Mayheim turned things around with a solid body attack and found a home for the uppercuts. He even started having success landing sharp countershots when they were close.
In the middle rounds, Moloney applied a solid body attack that halted his opponent’s momentum. Yet, Sanchez targeted the cut over the right eye with the jab and was able to land hard hooks and uppercuts that hurt the champion.
In the close rounds, it became a war of attrition. The Californian used the jab to set up combination punches and turned up the body attack. Moloney’s experience became a factor as he was able to back up Sanchez with combination punches and attacked with vicious uppercuts.
One judge scored it 114-114, a draw. Which was overruled by the other two judges’ scores of 116-112 in favor of the Aussie. 3kingsboxing scored it 115-113 for Moloney.
