MUMBAI NAILBITER: SINGH EDGES MAIMAITIALI
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Aug 2017
MUMBAI, INDIA ? Vijender Singh of India won a hard fought razor-thin unanimous verdict over Zulipikaer Maimaitiali of China after ten grueling rounds inside a packed NSCI Stadium.
The early rounds were mostly probing and feinting. Both boxers managed to land a strong punch but never in bunches. It was a chessmatch that gave Singh, a bronze medalist in the 2008 Olympics, an early lead. Maimaitiali, a southpaw from Urumqi, targeted Singh?s body in his effort to slow down the Indian?s lateral movement.
The Chinese was warned for low blows early on by Referee Atty. Danrex Tapdasan. Singh?s jab and lateral movement made Maimaitiali miss wildly. In the sixth, Maimaitiali was deducted a point by Referee Tapdasan for repeated blows below the beltline. This would prove crucial in the final outcome of the fight.
The seventh round continued with Singh dictating the tempo with his jab and one-two combos.
Zulipikaer surged in the eighth round and bloodied Singh?s nose. The Chinese boxer continued to charge forward and had Singh reeling and on the defensive.
But more low blows from Maimaitiali slowed his momentum. Blood continued to pour from the Indian?s nose as the partisan crowd and the Bollywood celebrities at ringside were in stunned silence in the final two rounds. Singh had to scrap and clinch to hold off the rampaging Maimaitiali.
The three Thai judges? scorecards read ? Sawaeng Thaweekoon ? 96-93, Mekin Sumon ? 95-94, Surat Soikrachang ? 95-94.
The bout was supervised by WBO VP for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo.
Both boxers acquitted themselves in this bout. The 31 year old Singh survived his first real test and is now 9W-0L, 7 KO?s. The 23 year old Maimaitiali suffers his first loss at 8W-1L-1D, 6 KO?s but revealed his true potential. To his credit, he silenced most of the hometown fans in the endgame.
Prior to this fight, Singh was ranked number 12 by the WBO in the super middleweight division and held the Asia-Pacific title. Maimaitiali was the WBO Oriental titlist and was ranked number 15. This win will certainly boost the Indian?s standing as a WBO contender. The WBO world champion in the 168lb division is Mexico?s Gilberto Ramirez.
Indian boxers also swept the undercards ? Neeraj Goyat retained the WBC Asia welterweight title with a lopsided unanimous win over Filipino Allan Tanada. (118-110,119-109,119-109).
Another Filipino, Larry Abarra, an expat based in Dubai, lost to Asaf Asif Khan aslo by unanimous verdict in a four round non-title bout., Dharmender beat Isaac Slade (Australia) by unanimous decision, Pardeep Kharera won by TKO after the second round over Wanpichit Siriphana (Thailand), who suffered an arm injury, Jitender Kumar stopped Thaet Likhitamporn (Thailand) in two rounds, Akhil Kumar beat Ty Gilchrist (Australia), who did not answer the bell for the third round due to pain in his right ribs. In an all-Indian affair, Kuldeep Dhanda beat Sachin Bhot by unanimous decision.
The bouts were sanctioned by the Professional Boxing Commission, Intl.
Photo ? Vijender Singh?s arm raised victorious by Referee Atty. Danrex Tapdasan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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