Akhmadaliev Stops Iwasa and Other Uzbekistan Fight Results

Unified super bantamweight titlist Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev attacked ferociously and with an unneeded assist from the referee, gained a win by stoppage over former world champion Ryosuke Iwasa on Saturday.

A win is a win, especially if it comes in your native Uzbekistan.

An abrupt and illogical stoppage could not detract from Akhmadaliev (9-0, 7 KOs) in his first defense of the WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles against Japan’s Iwasa (27-4, 17 KOs) in front of a live audience in the city of Tashkent.

It was Akhmadaliev’s first fight since winning a close battle with the former unified champion Danny Roman that ended by split decision. This fight was not that close.

In a battle between southpaws, it was Iwasa who opened up the action behind a steady stream of right jabs. Akhmadaliev was satisfied to simply look for the counter home run in the first round. But he could not find the target. It seemed to be Iwasa’s round based on his ability to connect with jabs.

Things changed quickly in the second round.

Akhmadaliev slipped into another gear behind his power boxing style that utilizes jabs, a left cross and a smooth right uppercut. It was his combination of choice against the taller Iwasa.

Japan’s former world champion took some shots in the second round and realized quickly that he better gain respect. Toward the end of the second round, he fired a four-punch combination and then shot a three-punch combination. It gained some pause from Akhmadaliev at the end of the round.

Fighting in front of his native country for the first time as a professional, Akhmadaliev attacked first in the third round with a left cross-right uppercut combination that caught Iwasa. The Japanese fighter countered immediately with a right jab-left cross combination and was met by a power right jab from the Uzbekistani. Both exchanged combinations but Akhmadaliev was landing the cleaner and more effective blows.

Akhmadaliev, who trains in Indio, California with brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz, had not fought since winning the titles in January 2020. But his attacking style didn’t seem to be in need of polishing.

In the fourth round Akhmadaliev rammed a right jab and was met with a strong counter left to the body by Iwasa. The Japanese fighter seemed to realize he could not allow the Uzbekistani fighter to gain momentum and was ready to meet power with power. Both traded lefts and then Akhmadaliev unloaded a four-punch combination and then a three-punch combination and was moving in for the kill. Iwasa countered with a left cross and fired his own five-punch combination. Akhmadaliev connected with a sneaky right uppercut at the end of the round.

It was clear that each fighter was not trying to win on points.

With his hometown screaming support, Akhmadaliev went into full attack mode and stormed across the boxing ring. A left uppercut, right hook combination by the Uzbekistan fighter connected and then he began raining blows on Iwasa who used every defensive tactic available. The referee looked like he wanted to stop the fight when suddenly Iwasa connected with a strong counter left and right hook. Akhmadaliev was not finished and continued the assault. Iwasa blocked some and evaded others. Akhmadaliev shortened his punches and pummeled Iwasa with blows that were more bothersome than powerful, but the referee Yury Koptsev felt otherwise and stopped the fight at 1:30 of the fifth round.

Iwasa smiled and looked at the referee in disbelief.

Akhmadaliev did look impressive in his first defense of the WBA and IBF titles.

Other Fights

Shakhram Giyasov (11-0, 9 KOs) battered Mexico’s Patricio Lopez (28-5) for two-plus rounds and knocked out the taller southpaw fighter with a right at 2:21 of the third. He knocked down Lopez three times in the super lightweight fight.

Israil Madrimov (7-0, 5 KOs) knocked down Congo’s Emmany Kalombo (14-1, 14 KOs) and eventually won by unanimous decision after 10 rounds in a super welterweight fight. Madrimov is a stablemate of Akhmadaliev and trains in Indio too.

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