Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Michael Wallisch | ESPN - December 16, 2022

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Makhmudov-Wallisch card streaming LIVE on ESPN+ from Shawinigan, Canada, FRIDAY at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT

Mbilli-Alexander bill streaming LIVE from Nantes, France, SATURDAY at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT

Two international fight cards will stream live and exclusively this weekend in the U.S. on ESPN+. The fight action starts Friday, as undefeated heavyweight wrecking ball Arslanbek Makhmudov defends his NABF and NABA straps against Germany’s Michael Wallisch in the 10-round main event from Centre Gervais Auto in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada.

The ESPN+ fight marathon continues Saturday from Parc des Expositions in Nantes, France, as super middleweight knockout artist Christian Mbilli steps up against American veteran Vaughn Alexander in a 10-rounder.

Makhmudov-Wallisch and undercard bouts will stream live starting at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

Mbilli-Alexander and undercard contests will stream live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT.

The Russian-born Makhmudov (15-0, 14 KOs) has been based in Montreal since beginning his professional journey in December 2017. The 6’5, 260-plus pound behemoth knocked out his first 14 opponents, including 12 in three rounds or less. Makhmudov, who is promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank, opened his 2022 campaign with February’s sixth-round knockout over former world title challenger Mariusz Wach. In September, he was taken the distance by another former world title challenger, Carlos Takam, after hurting Takam in the opening round. Wallisch (23-5, 16 KOs) has fought the likes of Joe Joyce, Efe Ajagba and Tony Yoka throughout a pro career that has spanned more than 12 years. He scored a second-round stoppage over Toni Thes in May.

In other streaming action from Shawnigan:

Mary Spencer (7-0, 5 KOs) vs. Femke Hermans (13-5-1, 5 KOs), 10 Rounds, Junior Middleweights

Steven Butler (31-3-1, 26 KOs) vs. Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs), 10 Rounds, Butler’s NABF Middleweight Title

Thomas Chabot (7-0, 7 KOs vs. Jonathan Carrillo Baranda (4-2-1), 6 Rounds, Featherweights

Leila Beaudoin (7-0, 1 KO) vs. Valgerdur Gudstensdottir (5-3, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Junior Lightweights

Luis Santana (7-0, 2 KOs) vs. Jonathan Uribe Hernandez (4-0-2, 1 KO), 6 Rounds, Lightweights

Alexandre Gaumont (5-0, 3 KOs) vs. Piotr Bis (6-2-1, 2 KOs), 6 Rounds, Middleweights

Mbilli (22-0, 20 KOs), a 2016 French Olympian, won his first 13 professional bouts by stoppage. After a unanimous decision over Ronald Ellis in December 2021, he had a power surge in 2022. In March, he knocked out former world title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi in five rounds, and less than six months later, he iced DeAndre Ware in the second round. Mbilli returns home for the first time since 2019 and is expected to be tested by Alexander (17-6-1, 10 KOs), a St. Louis native who is 2-0-1 in his last three fights. Alexander has only one stoppage defeat and a pair of victories over undefeated prospects since resuming his career in 2016.

In a six-round junior welterweight special feature, “The Fresh Prince of Monaco,” Hugo Micallef (4-0) goes for his fourth win of 2022 against Mexican veteran Jose Angel Rosales Romero (6-5, 3 KOs). Micallef signed with Top Rank prior to his pro debut last year and is currently the only active boxer from the Principality of Monaco. French lightweight prospect Christ Esabe (12-0, 3 KOs) is scheduled to return in a six-rounder.

In other streaming action from Nantes:

Souleymane Cissokho (15-0, 9 KOs) vs. Tulani Mbenge (19-1, 12 KOs), 12 Rounds, Vacant WBC Silver Welterweight Title

[Ruthless-RKO]

WEIGH-IN ALERT

Makhmudov came in at a career high 265.4. The 33-year-old enters the contest with an unblemished record of 15-0 (14 knockouts).

Meanwhile, Wallisch weighed in at 234.4. The 37-year-old German has a record of 23-5 (16 KOs).

In the chief supporting bout, Steven Butler (31-3-1, 26 KOs) tipped the scales at 159.6, while his opponent Joshua Conley (17-4-1, 11 KOs) came in at an identical 159.6 ahead of their NABF middleweight clash.

Mary Spencer (7-0, 5 KOs) came in on the junior middleweight at 152.8; while her opponent Femke Hermans (13-4, 5 KOs) weighed 152.

[CMCanavessi]

Fight night!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight night!

[goose 5]

Main event should be a brutal round 1 KO-2 rounds, max-imo.

[oogiebe]

A great shootout in the undercard between Thomas Chabot and Jonathan Carrillo
Baranda. Worth the watch if you can find it!!

[Finkel]

Main event should be a brutal round 1 KO-2 rounds, max-imo.

Yup, pure stay busy fight. Makhmudov is probably Wallisch's highest ranked opponent. He usually gets matched against (decent) guys earlier in their come up.

Whilst I'm no wilting violet, is it really appropriate to put Wallisch in with Makhmudov just to get KO'd? Seems a bit like cruel and unusual punishment to me.

[CMCanavessi]

What a joke

[goose 5]

A disgrace.

[margaret thatcher]

i think wallisch punched himself out with that blazing work rate of 3 punches in the entire fight

[DrDuke]

Back on the bum diet and here's another early stoppage. The kayo artist returns!

[Ruthless-RKO]

ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV STOPS MICHAEL WALLISCH IN ONE; FEMKE HERMANS DERAILS MARY SPENCER

Rising heavyweight Arslanbek Makhumdov stopped a fairly unwilling Michael Wallisch at the end of the first round at Centre Gervais Auto, in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada, on Friday night.

Makhmudov, 33, who was his unusual, imposing self throughout the introduction, got straight to business when the bell to begin the contest started, charging out at the German. Makhmudov (16-0, 15 knockouts) dropped Wallisch (23-6, 16 KOs) on three occasions, though he did have a point deducted for hitting Wallisch on the back of the head. Though Wallisch made it out of the round, he retired claiming a shoulder injury.

It wasn’t a good effort from Wallisch, who barely threw a punch in anger and didn’t appear to be particularly hurt going down under Makhmudov’s pressure, as opposed to a certain punch.

We didn’t learn anything new about Mahmudov during tonight’s performance but he goes forward and can look for bigger challenges in 2023. Enticing someone to face him will be difficult as he is a dangerous fighter and not that well-known.

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In chief support, Femke Hermans (14-4, 5 KOs) upset a lot of plans by defeating local favorite Mary Spencer (7-1, 5 KOs) in junior middleweight action.

Spencer, who was a three-time world amateur champion, had largely run through her opponents to date, scoring five first-round knockouts, and looked like a world champion-in-waiting. However the former WBO 168-pound titlist Hermans never got the memo. Hermans boxed a disciplined first round, held her ground and wasn’t intimated as others had been previously.

In the early stages of the second round, Hermans landed a big shot that hurt Spencer and saw her teeter forward, grabbing Hermans and falling to the canvas. Instead of being scored a knockdown, it was erroneously ruled a slip by referee Steve St. Germain. The Canadian didn’t have her feet under her and was visibly shaken up, though got through the round.

From there on, Hermans’ confidence grew and she boxed expertly, notably using excellent head and lateral movement to give Spencer fits. Hermans, who has lost to Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, countered, often pulled back in straight lines and was caught again. Hermans fought excellently and Spencer struggled to get a foothold in the fight.

Entering the final round, it was felt at ringside that Spencer needed a knockout to win. She was fatigued and unable to find that big punch that eluded her all night long.

When the scorecards were read, it was no surprise that Hermans was awarded the unanimous decision by the scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 96-94.

The win breathed new life into the 32-year-old Belgian’s career, while it’s back to the drawing board for Spencer, who also suffered a broken nose.

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Steven Butler (32-3-1, 26 KOs) maintained his win streak by edging past the difficult Joshua Conley (17-5-1, 11 KOs) to successfully defend his NABF middleweight title for the second time via 10-round unanimous decision. Butler, 27, won the vacant NABF title in June with a comprehensive display against Brandon Brewer (UD 10) and showed his vaunted power against Mark DeLuca (TKO 2) in September.

On this occasion, an early night wasn’t in the cards. The California native Conley employed impressive defensive discipline, countered and, at times, made the action ugly.

To Butler’s credit, he didn’t get frustrated and continued to try to make a fight, winning on the scorecards with a little too wide 99-91 and a more realistic 97-93 and 96-94.

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Touted junior lightweight prospect Thomas Chabot (8-0, 7 KOs) had to deal with severe adversity before edging past Jonathan Baranda (4-3-1) by hard-fought six-round decision. Chabot scored a flash knockdown in the opening round despite Baranda’s protests.

Although Chabot was extended past the third round for the first time in his career, he appeared en route to winning the fight. However, early in the fifth round, his Mexican opponent landed a heavy shot that dropped Chabot heavily. Chabot gathered himself and had to dig down deep and, through he was dropped a second time, found it within himself to recover. Late in the round, he was firing back and had the Mexican covering up.

At the conclusion of the fight, it looked like anyone’s win. Chabot was awarded a razor-thin six-round unanimous decision by the scores of 57-54 and 56-55 twice.

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Big-punching middleweight Alexandre Gaumont (6-0, 4 KOs) showcased his power by dropping late substitute Pablo Fernandez (9-12, 3 KOs) in each of the first two rounds before stopping the Mexican journeyman at 1:45 of the third round.

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Luis Santana (8-0, 2 KOs) won a six-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jonathan Hernandez (4-1-2, 1 KO) at lightweight. Santana’s superior skill set was very much in evidence as he boxed his way to a shut-out with 60-54 on all three scorecards.

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Junior lightweight Leila Beaudoin (8-0, 1 KO) successfully opened the show with a dominant six-round unanimous decision over Iceland’s Valgerdur Gudstensdottir (5-4, 1 KO). The 26-year-old, who also works as a nurse, won on the scorecards, 60-54 and 59-55 twice.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Arslanbek Makhmudov TKO1 Michael Wallisch... In Shawinigan, Quebec, heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov used a variety of punches behind the head to defeat Germany’s Michael Wallisch in one round. A dispritied Wallisch kneeled down three times in the first round. and the referee ended the fight after a count of eight and no response from the opposing camp. Wallisch falls to 23-6 with 16 KOs. The Russian-born Makhmudov (29-3 including the World Series of Boxing) is based in Montreal and is promoted by Eye of the Tiger and Top Rank. He opened his 2022 campaign with February’s sixth-round knockout over former world title challenger Mariusz Wach. In September, he was taken the distance by another former world title challenger, Carlos Takam, after hurting Takam in the opening round.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wallisch did keep putting his head low.