Muslim becomes WBA champion in IBA Champions’ Night Serpukhov main event

Serpukhov, Russia: Muslim Gadzhimagomedov claimed the WBA Bridgerweight title at the IBA Coliseum, at IBA Champions’ Night in Serpukhov, defeating China’s Zhaoxin Zhang in four rounds.

The Russian was undefeated coming into the bout for the vacant title, but faced the more experienced professional in Zhang, who handed Evgeny Romanov a shock defeat in February.

The two-time IBA World Championships gold medallist and Olympic silver medallist Gadzhimagomedov faced the pressure from the Chinese boxer early on but looked more comfortable watching the punches come his way.

Round three saw him go on the offensive more, before dominating to the point that the referee had to intervene, calling off the match shortly before the end of the fourth round was signalled, far before the scheduled 12 rounds were supposed to end.

The winner was promised a Mercedes AMG GT from the sponsors of the event, should somebody finish the fight before the fifth round, and after the fight Gadzhimagomedov took the keys from IBA President Umar Kremlev.

Albert Batyrgaziev gave Jono Carroll’s first stoppage defeat in the co-main event as he became the WBA Interim Super Featherweight title holder.