BESPUTIN CLAIMS WBA WELTERWEIGHT CROWN IN MONACO
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Dec 2019
Alexander Besputin took three scores of 116-112 to land the vacant WBA Welterweight World Title against fellow Russian Radzhab Butaev at the Casino de Monte-Carlo earlier this evening, live on Sky Sports in the UK and DAZN in the US.
Besputin had that bit more quality, showcasing brilliant footwork and head movement, as he improved his record to 14-0 after a brilliant and brutal battle for the 147lbs crown.
Cecilia Braekhus moved closer to a huge showdown against Katie Taylor after successfully defending her undisputed Welterweight crown against tough Argentinian Victoria Bustos.
The Norwegian 38-year-old had been out of the ring for almost a year but returned in style, dominating former two-weight World Champion Victoria Bustos over ten rounds – earning scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice.
‘First Lady’, economical with her variety of punches, went through the gears and showed her class as she made her 25th straight World Title defence. After a glowing start to life under the Matchroom Boxing banner, Braekhus is now set to meet Taylor in a mouthwatering battle of undisputed champions.
“That was a great performance from Cecilia. The future is Katie Taylor against Cecilia Braekhus,” promoter Eddie Hearn said afterwards. “Another fight for both in the spring and then they will fight in the summer. It’s the biggest fight in boxing.
“These two are on a collision course and in 2020 you’ll definitely see that fight.”
Braekhus agreed with the plans and was pleased with her performance: “It was a good ten rounds to get back in business. I got into my groove in the third round. Now I want to go on holiday and then get back in the gym.”
Undefeated Chinese Heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang got some much-needed rounds under his belt as he returned from a 14 month absence from the ring to beat Ukraine’s Andriy Rudenko over ten rounds to retain his WBO Oriental title.
‘Big Bang’ dominated the contest to remain unbeaten, taking scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93, but did tire late on and failed to capitalise on some clear stoppage opportunities. The 6′ 6″, 278-pound Zhang (21-0, 16 KOs) buzzed Rudenko with a straight left hand with just over a minute to go in the third round, but he couldn’t finish off the durable Ukrainian veteran.
Rising Welsh talent Joe Cordina outpointed Mexico’s Enrique Tinoco to land the vacant WBA Continental Super-Featherweight title in his first fight at the new weight. Two of the ringside judges in Monaco scored the bout 98-92 in Cordina’s favour, with the third judge scoring it 96-94, also in favour of the ‘Welsh Wizard’.
Cordina looked the more comfortable of the fighters from the outset, using his superior hand speed to dominate with his jab in the early rounds.The win extends Cordina’s perfect record to 11 wins from 11 fights, with seven of those wins coming by way of knockout.
In the first televised bout of the evening, German Super-Welterweight talent Thulasi Tharumalingam outclassed Alexander Benidze to improve his perfect professional record to 7-0, 4 KOs.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
Fri, 08 May 2026Laurente to promote amateur boxing
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 08 May 2026Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
Fri, 08 May 2026Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
Fri, 08 May 2026Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 08 May 2026Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 07 May 2026‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
Thu, 07 May 2026Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions
Thu, 07 May 2026FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 07 May 2026Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta
Thu, 07 May 2026Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 06 May 2026Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
Wed, 06 May 2026Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland!
Wed, 06 May 2026Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 05 May 2026Kulog at Kidlat: Boxing, Art, Thunder and Lightning at the 3rd Pacquiao–Elorde Awards
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 05 May 2026