Moscow, Russia - 2016 Rio bronze medalist Vladimir Nikitin (6-1-1, 2 KOs) capped off another controversial year with a solid win over South African veteran Tello Dithebe (21-14-1, 6 KOs) in three complete rounds.

Nikitin was much more aggressive and resilient. Dithebe was forced to spend the entire fight at the ropes, trying to survive Nikitin's heavy bombardment. Despite not being down in any of the rounds, Dithebe's body said enough was enough after three rounds.

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Hard-hitting Russian lightweight Alexander Devyatov (12-0, 11 KOs) acquired his first belt - a vacant WBA Asian 135lb title - with the first-round stoppage of Tanzanian import Adam Lazaro (10-3, 9 KOs). Both fighters collided in a two-way slugfest that didn't last long enough. At the start of the second minute of the round, Devyatov connected with a one-two and dropped Lazaro hard. Up at eight, the Tanzanian was still wobbly and was soon mercifully stopped by the referee after another Devyatov's barrage. Time of stoppage was 1:26.

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Marat Khuzeev's best opponent was none other than arguably the best fighter in the world. Khuzeev, now 41, lost to Canelo Alvarez in two rounds in August 2009, and that fight - while a loss - maybe, just maybe, was the most memorable moment of his career.

Now Khuzeev produces memorable moments for his opponents. Against Albert Khamkhoev he helped his foe to notch his first career stoppage win. Khamkhoev (now 7-0, 1 KO) stunned Khuzeev several times in the first, specifically with his short overhand right, and forced Khuzeev to retire in his corner just after one fought round. Losing his twelfth consecutive bout by way of stoppage, Khuzeev drops down to 20-20-1, 8 KOs.

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Southpaw power-puncher Vladimir Mironenko (4-0, 3 KOs) failed both to impress against and to stop his Kyrgyz opponent Dastanbek Imankaziev (2-5, 1 KO) in a scheduled six-rounder. Mironenko prevailed in almost every round but Imankaziev, who had lost his three previous  fights by way of stoppage, gave him fits and fought it to the very end.

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Making his heavyweight (or bridgerweight, if anyone is concerned) debut, former Russian, WBC CISBB and WBA Continental super middleweight champion Dilmurod Satybaldiev forced Qazim Umudov's retirement after two one-sided rounds. There were no knockdowns. Satybaldiev, 27, improved to 12-2, 3 KOs. Umudov drops down into a negative zone with a record of 3-4, 1 KO.

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Super bantamweight Maxim Chernyshev (2-0) dropped his Kazakh opponent Sagyndyk Moldashev (3-2, 2 KOs) in the fourth but failed to finish the foe in time. Chernyshev cruised to a wide unanimous decision over six rounds instead.

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In a battle of heavyweight debutants, former multi-time Russian national and 2019 World bronze medalist Maxim Babanin (1-0, 1 KO), 33, stopped unheralded Bogdan Rakich (0-1) in four rounds. The pudgy heavyweight, who had scored wins over Joe Joyce and Tyson Fury in the unpaid ranks, wasn't that impressive in his pro debut but did enough to force his opponent's retirement. There were no knockdowns, and Rakich complained about a leg injury.