Alexander Besputin outboxes Radzhab Butaev for the WBA regular title!
In a battle of unbeaten Russian welterweights vying for the vacant WBA “regular” title, both Radzhab Butaev (12-0, 9KOs) and Alexander Besputin (13-0, 9KOs) turned in a hard fought battle!
As the fight began the game-plan for each fighter was clear. Butaev would try to put the pressure on as he came forward and immediately tried to establish his presence. He wanted to bully his opponent and prevent him from being comfortable in the ring.
Besputin on other hand is the clear boxer. He would throw quick combinations and constantly turn his fellow countrymen which turned out to be very effective. He had at certain points in his career been dubbed with some of the qualities unified lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko possesses. Though not as good, his footwork and combination punching has confused all of his opponents and Butaev was no different.
Neither man could establish enough consistency throughout the first half to pull away. However, that would change as fatigue started to kick in. Still boxing and moving, Besputin continued to pepper Butaev with eye catching quick combinations. Butaev on the other hand would simply follow his opponent around the ring while not making any adjustments to counter the movement of his opponent.
The 9th round would be by far the best and most exciting of the fight as Butaev took advantage of a tired Besputin who had a brief mental lapse as the round would come to an end. Standing and trading with the harder hitter, Besputin would find himself shaken up heading into the tenth round.
A knockdown at this point was something Butaev needed. If not that, he would need to repeat the production in this round going forward. Unfortunately for him, Besputin regained momentum and control of the fight over the final three rounds to secure a hard fought unanimous decision victory.
All three judges scored it 116-112 for Alexander Besputin who now holds the WBA “regular” welterweight title. He lies in wait for a possibility to take on super champion, Manny Pacquiao but don’t hold your breath hoping that fight get made!
By: Jerrell Fletcher
