Matchroom Boxing – Results from Monaco, Monte Carlo:
The headliner was a highly drab affair as ex-world champion Denis Lebedev secured another shot at his old WBA cruiserweight belt.
Lebedev, made Champion in Recess by the WBA despite losing a fight during his reign, will officially challenge for the strap in 2019.
In his veteran years, Lebedev was too wise for Mike Wilson and won wide on the cards 119-109 (twice) and 117-111.
Michael Hunter is quickly making a name for himself as the American former cruiserweight took out Alexander Ustinov in the co-main event.
Despite a huge weight and size difference, Hunter got the better of the big Russian and took him out in the ninth.
In a WBA super-flyweight title defense, Kal Yafai was given a run for his money by Israel Gonzalez.
Yafai didn’t look his usual slick self but managed to see out a victory on the scorecards.
At the end of twelve hard-fought rounds, Yafai kept his title 117-111 and 116-112 (twice) with the judges.
The Birmingham native is now set to face a unification or potentially a blockbuster match-up with Roman Gonzalez.
UNDERCARD
Daniyar Yeleussinov recorded the fifth victory of his career as the Olympic gold medallist continued his fast-moving progress.
Kazakhstan’s next big world title hope made it two knockouts in a row since promoter Eddie Hearn promised more excitement from Yeleussinov.
Dropping Marcos Mojica twice in the second round before the referee ended the fight correctly in the third.
Frank Buglioni sadly couldn’t overcome a horrible cut as the former British light-heavyweight champion lost to Fanlong Meng.
Starting slowly, Buglioni struggled to get to grips with Meng. The Londoner was behind on the WBN scorecard when the contest was halted.
Meng was declared the winner in the fifth and moves on to 14-0. Bulgioni’s record drops to 22-4-1.
Kazakh Super-Featherweight Sultan Zaurbek continued his progress with a stoppage victory over Edwin Tellez.
Zaurbek built on his October debut at York Hall by finishing Tellez in the third.
The 22 year-old is now scheduled for a quickfire return to London next month.
In the opener, 28 year-old Ruslan Kupchik defeated Mifodzi Pilipenak via four-round points decision.
Judges carded 40-36, 40-36, 39-37 in favor of the Ukrainian-born Frenchman, who goes by the nickname ‘The Soldier’.
