[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

SUNDAY, 2 JULY, 2006

Arbachakov thrills compatriots
with TKO victory

Story by James Reynolds

Last night former WBC flyweight champion Yuri Arbachakov continued what has been a great weekend for Russian fighters in the International Boxing League, the world championship tournament's #2 seed scoring an 8th round TKO victory over Japan's Ichiro Okubo at the Krylia Sovetov in Moscow. It followed on from heavyweight Sergey Anyukov's domination of Florida's Ray Mercer on Friday, Arbachakov rallying from a slow start to floor Okubo at the end of the 5th and cut him in the 6th. The cut was on the Japanese fighter's left eyebrow and although his corner crew initially did a good job of closing it up Arbachakov targeted it throughout the 8th, leading to it re-opening and the ringside doctor halting the contest late in the 8th. It was a somewhat controversial stoppage as Okubo had been winning the round comfortably before referee Sergey Krupenich called a break in the action. Okubo's camp protested the result, implying that Arbachakov had received some hometown cooking.

Going into the 8th Arbachakov enjoyed a one-point lead on two cards and a three-point buffer on the third, even though Okubo had given him a terribly difficult night. The 7th seed had outlanded Arbachakov 240-162 at the time of the stoppage and surely could have made things interesting if allowed to continue to the final bell. However, it must be said that the cut was a particularly nasty one and the officials were within their rights to end the bout. Arbachakov recorded his 30th career win, twenty-two of which have come inside the distance against just two losses and a draw. Okubo fell to 27-4-1(22) and will no doubt return home to Japan with a sour taste in his mouth over his Russian experience. Arbachakov takes on the South African Jake Matlala in the semi-finals. In an absolute thriller Matlala defeated Mexico's Octavio Gomez by split decision (97-94, 95-96, 96-95). After appearing to be in serious trouble midway through the bout Matlala dominated the final rounds, the 3rd seed sweeping the scorecards in the 9th and 10th to stay alive in the tournament.

The other semi-final will be an all-Mexican affair between undefeated top seed Candido Tellez and Adrian Hernandez. Tellez ended a three-year reign as WBO champ to sign with the IBL and was in fantastic form in his debut for the new organisation, knocking out the Englishman Charlie Magri with a hard right cross 2:27 into round four. It had been an outstanding, action-packed fight before the abrupt knockout occured, Magri showing that he was entirely capable of pulling off an upset. Tellez improved to 28-0-1(19), Magri falling to 28-5-1(21). In the other quarter-final Hernandez overcame fellow countryman Luis Maldonado, taking a majority decision verdict after a see-sawing contest (96-94, 95-95, 96-94). Going into round three Hernandez was in complete control but Maldonado produced a brilliant retort, taking the next three rounds on all three scorecards to assume the upperhand. But just as quickly as he lost the momentum Hernandez snatched it back, duplicating Maldonado's feat by shutting him out through the 6th, 7th and 8th. They split the final two stanzas, leaving Hernandez a relieved victor.

The Tellez-Hernandez clash will be a rematch of a 2004 bout which Tellez won by 12-round unanimous decision in the defense of his WBO belt. Hernandez (35-4-1(27)) might never get a better chance to gain revenge. In a career that started ten years ago he is yet to win a world title and it would be amazing to see him earn a shot at the IBL championship by sending Tellez to his first career defeat...

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Results

(#4) Adrian Hernandez MD10 (#5) Luis Maldonado
(#3) Jake Matlala SD10 (#6) Octavio Gomez
(#1) Candido Tellez KO4 (#8) Charlie Magri
(#2) Yuri Arbachakov TKO8 (#7) Ichiro Okubo

Semi-final matchups

(#2) Arbachakov (30-2-1(22)) vs (#3) Matlala (36-3-1(28))
(#1) Tellez (28-0-1(19)) vs (#4) Hernandez (35-4-1(27))

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