Zaurbek Baysangurov vs. Michel Soro
Zaurbek Baysangurov 154 lbs beat Michel Soro 154 lbs by UD in round 12 of 12
- Date: 2012-05-12
- Location: Ice Palace "Terminal", Brovari, Ukraine
- Referee: Mickey Vann
- Judge: Jose Ignacio Martinez Antunez 116-111
- Judge: Mikael Hook 115-112
- Judge: Zbigniew Lagosz 117-111
- World Boxing Organization Light Middleweight Title (1st defense by Baysangurov)
- IBO Light Middleweight Title (1st defense by Baysangurov)
Notes
- Zaurbek Baysangurov 26-1 (20 KOs) vs. Michel Soro 18-0 (11 KOs)
- Soro entered as a 2.1/1 betting underdog.[1]
- Baysangurov entered having not fought in nearly ten months.
- Bout was on the undercard of Gennady Golovkin vs. Makoto Fuchigami.
- Among those in attendance was current heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.
Bout Summary
A fan-friendly, "excellent" fight saw both men have their moments and land with clean power shots. Soro used his movement and straight shots to likely earn rounds in the first half of the bout. He too had success with the right uppercut when in close. Baysangurov controlled much of the second half of the fight coming forward and pressing the action as Soro, who proved he could take a punch, ran out of steam and often appeared to be in survival mode.
A jab followed by a right hand that glanced off Baysangurov's shoulder and landed behind the ear scored a flash knockdown on Baysangurov in the final minute of Round 2. He was up quickly and action continued, but was clearly hurt from the shot. Soro remained controlled following the knockdown and Baysangurov was able to clinch to gather himself. Round 5 was another strong one for Soro who appeared to hurt the champion midway through. Baysangurov was warned in Round 6 for a punch that landed behind the head. Baysangurov had an improved Rounds 7 and 8, despite beginning to bleed from the nose. Baysangurov had his strongest round thus far in the ninth and had Soro in some trouble. Baysangurov was warned in Round 9 for pushing up the face of Soro in clinches (a foul he did throughout the fight) and firmly warned for pulling down on Soro's head. Each man had his moments early in Round 10, before Baysangurov came on with clean shots to the body and stung Soro with a left hook as the round ended. Baysangurov outworked a fading Soro in the 11th. Soro threw more in Round 12 as he likely knew he was down on the cards.