Christmas and New Year season are not usually the time for big-time boxing bouts, but there are still some important title fights which took place and are scheduled next week.
Light-heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev continued perfect 100% KO rate yesterday when he fought Isidro Prieto in a12-round main event in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Beterbiev is slated for a world title shot in 2017.
Prieto fought toe-to-toe with Beterbiev and was floored twice as the Russian's heavy punches dealt him his first KO loss at 2:44 in the first round. Beterbiev already has knocked out each of his 11 foes since he turned professional in June 2013. Prieto from Paraguay never suffered a knock out in any his first 30 professional fights prior to the Beterbiev encounter.
A short right hand by Beterbiev decked Prieto just 30 seconds after the opening bell for the vacant WBC silver light heavyweight title. A powerful left hook backed Prieto followed by a crushing right hand which knocked him down the second time as he struggled to get up on wobbly legs. He felled again to the canvas prompting referee Michael Griffin to stop the punishment and Prieto's record dropped to 26-2-3, 22 KOs.
In other world championship fights, on December 30 WBO superflyweight champ Naoya Inoue will defend his world title against former champion Kohei Kono in Tokyo, Japan. While on the same fight card Akira Yaegashi defends his IBF light-flyweight title against Samartlek Kokietgym.
On December 31, Takashi Uchiyama will have an opportunity to revenge against Jezreel Corrales, who scored an upset earlier this year to snatch the WBA super-featherweight title also in Tokyo. On the same bill, Ryoichi Taguchi defends the WBA light-flyweight title against unbeaten opponent Carlos Canizales.
In Kyoto, Japan IBF super-bantamweight champion Jonathan Guzman faces Yukinori Oguni while Kazuto Ioka defends the WBA flyweight crown against Yutthana Kaensa. Lee Haskins was supposed to defend his IBF bantamweight title against Shohei Omori on the same card but suffered a leg injury. Instead, Omori will fight Rocky Fuentes, his replacement.
In Gifu, Japan the vacant WBO light-flyweight title will be fought between Moises Fuentes and Kosei Tanaka.
Photo shows Artur Beterviev punching Isidro Prieto to the ropes.
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