Baysangurov stops Dzuman!

March 24, 2008

By Alexey Sukachev and Anton Gorunov

Reigning European light middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (18-0, 13 KOs) retained his title for the first time moments ago in Dniepropetorvsk, Ukraine, stopping local hero Roman Dzuman (23-5-1, 10 KOs) in eight thrilling rounds.

Ukrainian-based Russian Baysangurov, WBC #8, IBF #8 and WBA #11, looked a little bit rusty in opening rounds trying to throw jabs rather than power punches. Oppositely, Dzuman did his best to affect champion with his most telling blows. In round two, challenger rocked Zaurbek with the strong uppercut only to be clocked by the same punch moments later. Baysangurov’s punches clearly became stiffer and more frequent down the stretch while Roman failed to sustain an increased tempo. European master dropped his foe with a searing right hook to the body in round four and made his attack mode seemingly unstoppable since then. In round eight, Dzuman went down for the second time after the same right. He barely beat the count but was stopped soon thereafter following a lethal unanswered barrage by Baysangurov. European champion looked way stronger than in his last tune-up fight against Gheorghe Danut a month ago. Dzuman, on the other hand, suffered his bitterest loss and the first one inside the distance.

In a short but exciting co-featured bout of the evening hard-charging Georgian Avtandil Khurtsidze (14-1-2, 10 KOs) stopped Latvian Jurijs Borejko (14-11, 9 KOs) in three rounds and captured the vacant EBA middleweight crown. In a non-title ten-rounder unbeaten Sergey Fedchenko (20-0, 9 KOs) easily outpointed Gary Abajian (7-5). Also undefeated cruiser Vitaly Rusal (19-0, 13 KOs) scored an eight-round unanimous decision over Latvian Jevgenijs Andreevs (8-18, 2 KOs).

This show was promoted by the K2 East Promotions.

Other results:
Allaudin Martuzaliyev (3-0, 2 KOs) UD 6 Andrey Ageev (2-3, 1 KO)
Magomed Yadgarov (6-5, 2 KOs) UD 6 Timur Ahundov (1-1)
Andrey Rudenko (9-0, 3 KOs) UD 6 David Gegeshidze (7-3-1, 1 KO)