Following a 10-round give-and-take war at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Corona, Queens, NY, Cuba’s David Morrell, 174.8 lbs., earned a split decision victory against the tough Iman Khataev, 174.8 lbs. Scorecards read 96-93 for Khataev, and 95-94 twice for Morrell, who improved to 12-1 (9 KOs). Khataev, of Urus, Martan, Russia, suffered his first defeat, dipping to 10-1 (9 KOs). Morrell, of Santa Clara, overcame a knockdown early on, when he was dropped in round two by an overhand right.

 

Reito Tsutsumi, 134.6 lbs., of Tokyo, Japan, opened up the Ring III event with a second-round stoppage against Michael Ruiz, 134.8 lbs., of Toms River, NJ, now 2-8-1. Tsutsumi improved to 2-0 (1 KOs).