Joe McConnell
Italian Olympian Guido Vianello earned the biggest win of his career, defeating Arslanbek Mahkmudov by eighth-round TKO on the same night that Christian Mbilli dominated Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
Vianello and Mahkmudov met at the World Series of Boxing nearly 10 years ago, with Vianello retiring in the fourth round due to an ear injury. This time, things were different.
From the opening stanza, Vianello quickly landed a series of right shots. The right jab, however, was crucial, as it caused Makhmudov’s left eye to swell in the third round.
Italian Guido Vianello scored the biggest win of his career so far against Arslanbek Mahkmudov
Mahkmudov’s left eye was swollen in the third round
Makhmudov tried to cut off the ring despite his impaired vision, but was docked a point in the sixth for punches to the back of the head. Vianello landed a free-kick from the outside in the seventh. Makhmudov’s glove touched the canvas at one point, though it was not declared a knockdown.
At the beginning of the eighth, the doctor deemed Makhmudov no longer fit to continue.
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Cuban Osleys Iglesias made quick work of Ghanaian veteran Sena Agbeko, knocking him down in the first round and then stopping him in the second in their super middleweight bout
“I’m a contender now. I’m ready for the world level and I proved it tonight,” Vianello said.
“I thought I had beaten Efe Ajagba, and I came into this fight with a lot of confidence. I was in the best shape of my career, and it showed tonight. I dominated him and then I knocked him out.
“I just had to stay calm. There was a knockdown that wasn’t called, but I knew if I stuck to my game plan, I could get the knockout.”
Vianello remained composed to secure the victory via TKO
Meanwhile, Mbilli defeated three-time world title challenger Derevyanchenko with a crushing 10-round unanimous decision.
Mbilli, ranked in the top three by all major sanctioning organizations, was relentless from the first stanza, throwing bombs from all angles.
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Twenty-year-old lightweight Abdullah Mason lands a perfectly timed left uppercut that sends Mike Ohan Jr. to the canvas, heading for a second-round TKO.
Derevyanchenko tried to box from the outside but injured his left bicep in the third round, forcing him to fight one-handed. In the fifth, the 38-year-old Ukrainian fought back with consecutive rights, but Mbilli’s youth and power overcame him as he fought to finish the fight on his feet.
Mbilli maintained his undefeated record with scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92.
In the heavyweight co-headlining of the evening, Frenchman Christian Mbilli dominated Sergiy Derevyanchenko
Mbilli said: “I had some problems with my left hand and I couldn’t lift it. I had to throw punches. It was difficult, but I had to do my best.
“He’s a warrior. He was in a tough position, but he fought back. I’ll go home and watch the fight again.
“Right now I’m ready for big fights. I want to become a world champion. I know that to be the best, I have to beat the best. I don’t want to name names, but everyone knows who the number one is. I want to fight the number 1.”
Ukrainian Derevyanchenko fought hard in the race, but was firmly second best
Derevyanchenko said: “My legs were good. I only had one arm. I needed to move. When I stood still, he threw combinations.
“He’s a good boxer, a strong boxer. But if I had two hands, I think the situation would be different.”
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