Abdullaev Stops Linares in Final Round in Dramatic War in Russia
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Feb 2022
In a thrilling war, world-ranked Russian Lightweight Zaur Abdullaev (15-1, 9 KO's) claimed the most important win of his 5-year pro boxing career by twice dropping and stopping brave former world champ Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares (47-8, 29 KO's) of Venezuela in the final round of their dramatic battle Saturday night in Ekaterinburg, Russia. ⭐️👍🥊
With his climactic victory, the 27-year-old Zaur Abdullaev retained his WBC Silver Lightweight title and positions himself well for a possible shot at the WBC Lightweight World Title later this year.
Linares, 36, started effectively while displaying his customary outstanding boxing skills, slick moves and wide repertoire of punches.
But the constant relentless aggressive, coming-forward pressure from the younger Abdullaev eventually saw him prevailing over Linares, rocking the game former champ with devastating bombs, prompting his demise just seconds away from the final bell.
Linares down on the canvas.
Abdullaev retains his WBC belt.
Linares went down hard two times in that fateful final stanza, falling against the ropes, coming up on his feet those two times, just to receive even more crushing artillery from the Russian dynamo till the Swiss referee intervened halting the onslaught, waiving this off, sparing big-hearted Linares from an unnecessary damage.
It was a thrilling, dramatic win for the 5' 9" Russian Zaur Abdullaev who might now become mandatory challenger to the coveted green ‘n golden WBC Lightweight World Crown.
CO-FEATURE: ÁNGEL RODRÍGUEZ WINS WBA 130 ELIMINATOR
In the hard-fought 12-rounder co-feature, Ángel "Humildad" Rodríguez (20-1, 10 KO's) of Cumaná, Venezuela, scored a razor-thin split decision triumph over tough Russian Mark Urvanov (20-3-1, 10 KO's) to win the WBA Super Featherweight World Title Eliminator.
With his close, but well-deserved victory, Rodríguez earns the right to a WBA 130 lbs world title shot next.
The exciting show Saturday night in Ekaterinburg was a presentation of Russian promoter German Titov of RCC Boxing, live on ESPN+.
The author Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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