Eimantas Stanionis Wins Split Decisions Over Rival Radzhab Butaev!
Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9KOs) avenged two amateur losses by taking the WBA Regular welterweight title away from amateur nemesis Radzhab “No Mercy” Butaev (14-1, 11KOs).
“No Mercy” Radzhab Butaev is an accomplished amateur fighter, having participated in the World Series of Boxing twice. Moreover, he has a win over highly decorated Cuban 2020 Olympic gold medalist Roniel Iglesias.
In 2019, he suffered the first defeat of his career fighting for the vacant WBA Regular title. But, the decision was overturned after Alexander Besputin tested positive for a banned substance. In 2021, “No Mercy” showed just that in a second shot at the title. He claimed a ninth-round stoppage over WBA champion Jamal James.
Eimantas Stanionis has a good amateur background also, having competed in the WSB and holds a victory over former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn. Moreover, he won a gold medal in the 2015 European championship. The boxing community took notice of his skillset after witnessing a victory over former title challenger Thomas Dulorme.
Stanionis was initially going to face WBA Super champion Yordenis Ugas. However, the 27-year-old Lithuanian agreed to step aside and allow the mega-fight between unified champion Errol Spence Jr and Ugas to take place. That gamble paid off as he now owns a piece of championship gold after defeating an old amateur rival.
NO FEELING OUT PROCESS
As mentioned earlier, these guys are no strangers to each other, and they fought like it. Both fighters decided to test each other’s will by going toe-to-toe, exchanging jabs and left hooks to the body. Stanionis began to get the better of the exchanges in close, landing a pole-like jab and straight right hand. Butaev adjusted by switching southpaw, landing the eye-catching thudding left and right hooks to the body, and connecting short, compact uppercuts.
Stanionis started to find a home for the straight right hand down the middle and took advantage of the WBA Regular champion keeping his head on the centerline. Butaev started using his footwork to create space and landed some good body shots and hurtful uppercuts.
A WAR TO THE END
This fight turned into a war that was never going to ended. Stanionis got the jab going and did a better job of fighting off the back foot. Moreover, his defense came into play as he dodged the wild hooks of Butaev while digging into the body and landing counter hooks of his own.
Down the stretch, both fighters started showing fatigue. Stanionis got caught off balance a few times, and was hit with counter hooks. In round eleven, Butaev was catching a groove landing good shots but was deducted a point after several warnings for hitting Stanionis while pushing down his head.
In the final round, it was guns blazing as both men fought the round of their lives. Stanionis brought the crowd to life after landing three left hooks in a row. Both fighters continued to trade blows, throwing wild shots until the final bell sounded.
One judge scored it 114-113 for Butaev, overruled by the other two that saw it 116-11 and 117-111, crowning Stanionis the new WBA Regular champion.
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By: Garrisson Bland
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