Light welterweights Oganes Ustyan and Georgy Chelokhsaev produced a bloody thriller in one of the best fights in Russia this year, and Cheloksaev came out as a winner after a very hard-fought ten-rounder.

Ustyan, 25, marched forward, while more experienced Chelokshaev, 29, who mostly operated as an aggressor, decided to work defensively and counter his opponent. Defense was also different. While Ustyan tried to retain high guard on his way in, the Ossetian fighter was more relaxed, often putting his hands down for more flexibility and also for unorthodox angles he gave to his opponent. 

Despite being one who tried making the fight, Ustyan was also one who took more shots, which landed cleanly. He had his success too, but a vast majority of his punches were either smothered by Cheloksaev or lacked power to really trouble him. On the other hand, Chelokhsaev was able to rock his opponent several times, and he also got bolder as the fight progressed. The closing rounds were all Cheloksaev's, and Ustyan's face at the end told this story.

At the end, judges preferred Chelokhsaev to get a decision. He moves to 22-2-1, with 14 KOs. Ustyan suffers his first career loss and drops down to 11-1, with 3 KOs.

Cruiserweight Sharabutdin Ataev (5-0, 3 KOs), 2021/2022 Russian and 2023 world amateur champion, continued his route as a pro with a one-sided unanimous decision over Nail Dzhandaliev (1-1) over eight rounds. It wasn't a walk in the park for Ataev but he won every round and he also scored two knockdowns of Dzhandaliev in round four, albeit he was unable to finish his job.

In an upset, super featherweight journeyman Armen Ataev (8-5-1, 4 KOs) dealt previously undefeated Aznaur Kalsynov (4-1-3) his fors loss as a pro after eight very hard-fought rounds.

Kalsynov was better early on but lacked activity. Still, his counterpunching was effective during the first three rounds, as he tagged Ataev cleanly time and again but lacked power to prevent him from going in. The Armenian ate five to la one, but when he landed this single punch it was well felt by Kalsynov. 

The middle rounds were virtually even, and Ataev had more success in the closing round, where he outfought and out punched his foe. BoxingScene had it a draw 76-76 (which might have been Kalsynov's fourth in just eight fights), but judges voted to award a majority decision to Armen Ataev.

Moldova native Maxim Cherniciuc (6-0, 1 KO) showed versatility and technical skills in an eight-round unanimous decision over welterweight Andrey Maik (9-3, 1 KO). He got a unanimous decision over Maik, who lost his second in a row.

Cherniciuc, 22, was bigger and at the same time more flexible than Maik, 29. The Moldovan did especially well during the opening rounds and closer to the end of the fight, while Maik had his chances in the middle rounds. Neither boxer was hurt or rocked during the fight. Boxing Scene had it 79-73 - for Cherniciuc.

Uzbek former amateur standout Bobo-Usmon Boturov (2-0-1) survived two first-round knockdowns to overcome tough resistance of determined Vadim Lubsanov (6-3, 1 KO) over eight hard-fought rounds with a unanimous decision

Bobo-Usmon, 2020 Uzbek Olympian and 2019 WC bronze medalist, started slowly but aggressively. In one of the exchanges, he threw a huge left hook to miss badly and was dropped by Lubsanov's right counter hook. Boturov didn't pay enough attention to the ringing bell and paid his price, when southpaw Lubsanov dropped him again with a counter left cross soon thereafter.

The Uzbek fighter sensed that the handicap was worrisome and started to box more carefully in the second round. Lubsanov worked defensively and did less. From round three, Usmonov combined some of his amateur tricks with roughhouse tactics. He mauled and roughed his opponent, held and punched and applied some other foul tactics. Referee Roman Petrov warned Boturov several times but didn't deduct any points.

After the midpoint, Lubsanov was considerably gassed while Boturov was as energetic as in round one. Although the Russian had his moments, the Uzbek was doing more. BoxingScene had it 76-74 - for the Uzbek fighter, who still doesn't impress as a pro.

Moscow-based Armenian heavyweight Vartan Arutyunyan (6-0, 3 KOs) scored a wide unanimous decision over always durable Belarussian Yuri Bykhovtsev (10-27-3, 5 KOs) in a six-rounder. No scores were announced but 60-53 is expected to be seen in the protocols, as Arutyunyan dropped his opponent with a double left hook in round four. On the other hand, Bykhovtsev delivered everything he got, and he was able to slightly cut Arutyunyan in one of the closing rounds. The Belarussian lost his thirteenth bout in a row. He was stopped thrice - each time by then-undefeated fighters in Richard Towers, Arnold Gjergjaj and Hussein Cinkara.

In a battle of light heavyweight pro debutants, Alexey Alfiorov of Belarus outpointed Mardon Kamolov of Uzbekistan unanimously over six rounds.

Heavy-punching super featherweight Tigran Uzlyan (7-1, 5 KOs) dropped Namibian import Lazarus Shaningwa (8-2-1, 2 KOs) four times in round one to get a quick stoppage at 2:59. Shaningwa was first down after a liver shot, then was put on a knee with a double left hook to the head, then on another left hook and, finally, after a combination of punches with a right cross as a finisher.

Uzlyan lost one in his career to talented Tajik Olympian Bahodur Usmonov. Shaningwa was kayoed for the second consecutive time - and one again in Russia.

Lightweight Alexander Suslov (2-1, 1 KO) got a hard-fought majority decision over four rounds versus debuting Ilya Nabiev (now 0-1).