Artur Subkhankulov TKO12 Bahodur Usmonov ... The main event in Ufa, Russia, saw local hero Artur Subkhankulov battle Tajikistan's Bahodur Usmonov to determine the mandatory challenger for the IBF lightweight title. Both men entered the ring with undefeated professional records and elite amateur pedigrees. The contest ignited instantly. Usmonov, boxing from a southpaw stance, sought to apply immediate pressure, forcing Subkhankulov to solve a complex tactical puzzle. While the early rounds were razor-thin, Subkhankulov’s left hand began to find its mark with a thudding force in the third, hurting Usmonov several times.

 

This adversity seemed to galvanize the Tajik boxer, who responded with an aggressive and accurate fourth round. Usmonov maintained a blistering tempo, but Subkhankulov continued to land heavy counters. For several rounds, the two traded momentum in a high-level chess match, setting traps and exchanging in entertaining fashion.

 

The decisive shift arrived in the tenth round when Subkhankulov sent Usmonov to the canvas twice during a fierce exchange. Sensing victory, Subkhankulov dropped him again at the start of the 11th and spent the remainder of the round in pursuit of the stoppage. The end came in the twelfth; Subkhankulov maintained his relentless momentum, scoring a fourth knockdown before the referee stepped in to wave the fight off. The TKO victory confirms Subkhankulov as a potential challenger for champion Raymond Muratalla.