WBO #6-rated super middleweight Aslambek Idigov performed well and increased his credentials with a convincing unanimous decision over rugged veteran Stanislav Kashtanov, a one-time WBA interim 168lb titlist, in front of his hometown fans on Thursday, September 4. The fight headlined a local show in Grozny, put up by Akhmat Promotions, a promotional outfit supported by none other than Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, who saw his four sons competing in the undercard amateur bouts.

Idigov outboxed and outfought his older counterpart to rather wide scores on all the judges’ scorecards: 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93. Idigov (19-0, 7 KOs) is a new WBO European 168lb champion, while Kashtanov drops down to less-solid 36-6, 21 KOs, with four consecutive decision losses in his latest fights.

In the main supportive bout, heavyweight Abdul-Kerim Edilov (3-0, 3 KOs) increased his resume with the third-round stoppage of hard-nosed veteran Denis Bakhtov (39-18, 26 KOs), who has lost for the eighth consecutive time and hasn’t scored any wins since 2014.

What is about the pandemic? For Shamir Petrosyan of Shamo Boxing it appears to be non-existent, as the Moscow-based promoter staged an almost record-breaking 28-fight (!) card at the legendary USC Soviet Wings, a hotbed of Russian and Soviet boxing, on Friday night.

The card didn’t disappoint, as the main event ended in huge upset when undefeated favorite Artur Ziyatdinov, who had competed exclusively in Canada beforehand, was defeated for the first career time by heavy-handed yet fragile Gasan Gasanov (17-9-1, 13 KOs). Scores were: 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94 - for the new Russian light heavyweight champion. Ziyatdinov is down to 12-1, 9 KOs.

Two undefeated fighters remained undefeated, and a vacant WBA International super bantamweight title remained vacant, after the clash between Muhammad Shekhov (7-0-1, 3 KOs) and Magomed Kurbanov (6-0-1, 3 KOs), not to be confused with the world-rated light middleweight with the same name, ended in a ten-round draw.

Light welterweight Andrey Maik (7-0, 1 KO) acquired a vacant WBA Asian 140lb title with a decision over fellow unbeaten Radik Grigoryan (6-1-1, 1 KO). Also, 21-year old Uzbek Ravshan Makhamadjonov (11-0, 7 KOs) is a new WBC Youth light middleweight champion following a decision over Ukrainian import Vladimir Gordienko (8-2, 3 KOs).

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IBA light welterweight champion Sofya Ochigava (3-0, 1 KO), who came back to the ring this March after four years off the ring, will continue her quest for another fight with bitter rival Katie Taylor. The next step is tentatively set for Oct. 23 as a part of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Adam Deines showdown. The date of October 24 is another possibility.

“If the pandemic situation is fine, I’ll fight either in Moscow on October 23 or on October 24 in Kazan. We are considering options now but Yuliya Kutsenko (7-1-1, 3 KOs) seems to be a frontrunner. It’ll be for one of the WBA belts”, said Ochigava to media.

Ochigava is a three-time European (2005, 2007 and 2009) and a two-time world (2005 and 2006) champion, who lost a narrow (8-10) decision to Taylor in the final of 2012 London Olympics.

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WBA Gold super middleweight champion Fedor Chudinov (22-2, 15 KOs), who experiences a late career revival, will fight net on September 11 in Khimki, a satellite city of Moscow, Russia, against the United Kingdom native Umar Sadiq (10-1, 6 KOs) over twelve rounds. Chudinov is also rated #6 by the WBC and #11 by the WBO.

In the chief supportive bout of the night, famed MMA veteran Sergey Kharitonov will make his pro boxing debut against a familiar name in long-faded British veteran Danny Williams (54-28, 41 KOs), who has been fighting exclusively outside the United Kingdom for the last ten years.

Another notable heavyweight Sergey Kalchugin (4-0, 2 KOs) is set to fight Bogdan Grevtsov (1-1), while super bantamweight Chingiz Natyrov (1-0, 1 KO) will fight Ukrainian Olexander Gryschuk (16-1, 6 KOs) in another interesting match-up.