By Alexey Sukachev

In the main boxing event of a huge fight show at the Traktor Palace of Sports in Chelyabinsk, Russia, rising super featherweight Shavkat Rakhimov (9-0, 7 KOs) got a hard-fought fifth-round stoppage of durable Filipino Rogelio Jun Doliguez (21-4-2, 15 KOs), adding a vacant WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council 130lb title to an already owned WBO Youth I/C belt.

Jun Doliguez, 25, proved to be a tough match for the Tajik native, who is three years his younger. He took the punch well, whenever he couldn't roll and answered well with crisp left hands. The Filipino southpaw, however, lost the first couple of rounds but got bigger in the third. Rakhimov was fast and efficient with his jab but his power punches lacked precision. It was a tossup fight up until round five, when Rakhimov began to overpower his foe. Finally, one of his attacks led to Jun Doliguez going down in pain. He was counted out sitting on a knee, marking the first time of his career he has ever been stopped. Time of stoppage was 2:15.

A fan-friendly fight between Russian lightweight veteran Rustam Nugaev (29-7-1, 19 KOs) and Uzbek import Feruzbek Yuldashev (8-2, 2 KOs) was unfortunaely cut short after the seventh round after Yuldashev, 22, arguably suffered a broken hand a couple of minutes before that after landing a punch right onto Nugaev's forehand. His right hand off, Yuldashev was unable to continue.

Before that it was an even fight. Much more experienced but also much slower Nugaev was too stationary at times, sitting on the ropes and eating punches. His superb chin was too hard to crack by light punches of Yuldashev, but the Uzbek made up for insufficient power by throwing and landing more. Nugaev landed his share of  hard blows but Yuldashev was always in his face, despite starting to wind down in later rounds. There were no knockdowns. Nugaev, 34, retained his WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver lightweight title.

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Two undefeated fighters collided in a bid for a vacant WBO Oriental cruiserweight title, and Russian Yuri Kashinskiy (11-0, 10 KOs), 30, came as a clear winner, stopping overmatched Croatioan Christian Krstacic (13-1, 10 KOs) in two rounds. After a relatively slow opening round, Krstacic, 35, was down four times in round two.

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Tajik import Muhammadhodja Yakubov (6-0, 3 KOs) retained his WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental lightweight title for the first time by overpowering Columbian veteran Yogli "Olafo" Herrera (28-18, 20 KOs) over ten one-sided rounds. Yakubov clearly dominated his opponent, being too speedy, too powerful and too refined for the 34-year old veteran. Final scores were: 100-89, 100-90 and 100-90.

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Youth has beaten experience and age once again in the first title bout of the evening, as 25-year old super bantamweight Murad Arslanov (8-0, 4 KOs) outslugged savvy boxing veteran Andre Isaev (30-8, 9 KOs) over ten close rounds.

Isaev, 36, once a fringe contender, saw his best days long ago, and he hasn't won against a notable opponent for well over seven years. Against smaller but stronger and more energetic Arslanov, the Belarussian showed some shkills and exploded with punches from time to time but Arslanov boxed better and landed more punches, specifically in the closing rounds. Isaev was also cut over his right eye. Final scores were: 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 - for Arslanov, who retained his WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council for the very first time.

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In a battle of unbeatens, former Kyrgyz amateur standout Akzhol Sulaymanbek uulu was forced to go the distance for the first time in his career but overcome tough Uzbek import Sharofiddin Juraxonov (1-1, 1 KO) in a heated six-rounder. Sulaymanbek uulu improves to 5-0, 4 KOs, showing superior boxing skills against rugged but limited opponent.

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Young and rising featherweight bomber Mark Urvanov continued his streak of convincing performances with the third-round stoppage of journeyman Alexander Saltykov (10-40-3, 5 KOs). Saltykov tried to match his opponent's strength and youth with his experience but was overwhelmed in the third, being thrice sent to the canvas. 20-year old Urvanov improved to 9-1, 6 KOs, in a non-title six-rounder. Time was 2:27 of the stanza. Urvanov holds WBC Asian Boxing Council, WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council and WBO Asia Pacific Youth titles.