Denis Shafikov Held To Majority Draw By Gadzhialiev
Posted: 09 Feb 2019, 16:16
By Alexey Sukachev
Sochi, Russia - In an upset, heralded former three-time world title challenger Denis Shafikov (40-4-2*, 20 KOs) was held to a draw but far less experienced lightweight Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev (6-1-1*, 2 KOs) in a scheduled ten-rounder.
Gadzhialiev was catching Shafikov early on with spot-on counter left hooks and uppercuts, showing solid timing and uncanny ability. The veteran fighter, who turns 34 in June, caught his second wind in the mid rounds, pressing forward and working his opponent's body but Gadzhialiev came back extra solid in the closing rounds, arguably clinching them.
The final scores announced were: 94-97, 95-95, 96-96 - with no winner being announced (including a single uneven card), making it a majority draw. The asterisk, however, is due for this fight being a quarterfinal of the national boxing cup in this weight class.
As only one fighter could advance further, a winner was announced based on who had claimed the final round... And it was Gadzhialiev. The final outcome and its effect on the boxers' records will be reported later.
Sochi, Russia - In an upset, heralded former three-time world title challenger Denis Shafikov (40-4-2*, 20 KOs) was held to a draw but far less experienced lightweight Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev (6-1-1*, 2 KOs) in a scheduled ten-rounder.
Gadzhialiev was catching Shafikov early on with spot-on counter left hooks and uppercuts, showing solid timing and uncanny ability. The veteran fighter, who turns 34 in June, caught his second wind in the mid rounds, pressing forward and working his opponent's body but Gadzhialiev came back extra solid in the closing rounds, arguably clinching them.
The final scores announced were: 94-97, 95-95, 96-96 - with no winner being announced (including a single uneven card), making it a majority draw. The asterisk, however, is due for this fight being a quarterfinal of the national boxing cup in this weight class.
As only one fighter could advance further, a winner was announced based on who had claimed the final round... And it was Gadzhialiev. The final outcome and its effect on the boxers' records will be reported later.
