By Vadim Pushkin

Cruiserweight contender Ismayl Sillakh (25-3, 19 KOs), 31 years old, is back in in the hunt with his second victory in a row.

Sillkah returned to action at the Suzhou Sports Center in Suzhou, China and won a nine round technical decision over Andrei Kniazev (14-5). The scores were 87-84, 86-85 and 88-83.

The fight was stopped early due to a clash of heads that opened up a cut above the right eyebrow of Sillakh. With the victory Sillakh captures the vacant WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight world title.

Sillakh has been fighting all over the world since getting knocked out in two rounds by then light heavyweight world champion Sergey Kovalev in November of 2013. That was Sillakh's last major fight on American television.

After suffering the loss to Kovalev, Sillkah took nearly two years off and when he made a decision to restart his career he moved up to the cruiserweight division and traveled back home to win his next two fights in Ukraine.

Sillakh then came over to Russia this past June and suffered a knockout loss in three at the hands of Russia's Max Vlasov. Sillakh had the edge early on in that fight, but his delicate chin failed him once he got hit flush. He then traveled to Arkansas in November and knocked out overmatched opponent Brad Austin in two rounds.