Kamshybek Kunkabayev, Salvatore Tapia, Cesar Francis

There were wins for the likes of Kamshybek Kunkabayev, Ray Seitzhanov, Talgat Shayken and more as an action-packed event took place in Kazakhstan on Friday.

The event was taking place at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, and was broadcast live on IFL TV, with some of the best Kazakh talent on display.

Kunkabayev (5-0, 4 KOs) extended his undefeated record with another dominant win, as the fearsome cruiserweight secured a second round stoppage victory over Farrukh Juraev.

Seitzhanov (10-0, 6 KOs) claimed the first title of his professional career, defeating Jose Macias by split decision to win the vacant WBO Youth super-lightweight title. It was a close fight, with the judges scoring it 95-94, 95-94, and 94-95, earning Seithanov the win.

Talghat Shayken (8-0, 4 KOs) claimed a dominant victory too, as he defeated Mukhammadsalim Sotvoldiev by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 80-72.

Elsewhere on the card, there were wins for Nurdos Tolebay, Rakhat Seitzhan, Aidos Medet, Nurbol Sultanbay, and more.

RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS Results

In an action-packed main event that didn’t figure to go the distance, Salvatore “Chango” Tapia won an 8-round split decision over Emiliano “Letal” Cruz, headlining last night’s RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS® show in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico.

Five fights were streamed live and exclusively on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www.ufcfightpass.com.

The pro boxing event was one of the highlights of the 40th Nayarit Festival, which is celebrated between March 10 and 27, displaying the cultural identity of Nayarit like the Indigenous community, and also providing entertainment by offering regional artists at national and international events. It attracts between 20,000 and 30,000 people each day of the festival.

The boxing event was presented by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions in association with De La O Promotions, World Cup Boxing Series and Team Cruz Promotions.

Tapia (13-3-1, 10 KOs), the former WBC FECOMBOX super lightweight champion, and lightweight Cruz (13-4, 12 KOs) combined for 22 knockouts in their 25 victories (88-percent win percentage).

The battled toe-to-toe from the opening bell, pounding each other around the ring, en route to an entertaining split-decision victory for Tapia by judges’ scores of 77-75 twice and 78-75 in favor of Cruz. The 24-year-old Tapia won his fourth in a row, sixth of his last seventh. Cruz went into the fight having won six of his last eight fights.

In the co-featured event, reigning WBO Latino Super Middleweight Champion Lester Martinez (11-0, 10 KOs) stopped light heavyweight Jaime “El Huizi” Hernandez (9-6, 4 KOs), the former Mexican Pacific Coast super lightweight titlist. In a non-title fight, the WBO #14 rated Martinez, fighting out of Guatemala, was simply too much for Hernandez to handle. The bell for the fifth round sounded, but Hernandez was unable to continue.

Making his RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS appearance, Martinez has potentially positioned himself for a major fight later this year versus a top 15 ranked opponent. In his 2019 pro debut, he knocked out former world champion Ricardo Mayorga in the opening round, and he has since beaten notable opponents such as Michi Munoz and Uriel Gonzalez.

Arnando “El Chica” Ramirez (6-0-1, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten, taking an 8-round unanimous decision from fellow Mexican super featherweight Edgar “Diablo” Espinosa Vargas (7-2, 6 KOs).

Hector “Tigre” Perez Cruz (7-0, 5 KOs) and Victor “Tyson” Tadeo Rodriguez (3-1, 3 KOs) squared off in a battle between Tepic featherweights. Cruz pitched a shutout, winning all six rounds for a convincing triumph.

In the UFC FIGHT PASS opener, 19-year-old lightweight Marco Cota Moreno improved to 6-0 (4 KOs), comfortably winning a 4-round unanimous decision over Jonathan “Lagartijo” Perez Zuniga (6-4, 6 KOs). Moreno was a celebrated Mexican amateur boxer who compiled a sterling 155-15), including five-Sonora State championship titles

OFFICIAL RESULTS

MAIN EVENT – SUPER LIGHTWEIGHTS

Salvatore Tapia (13-3-1, 10 KOs), Tepic, Nayarit, México

WDEC8 (77-75, 77-75, 75-78)

Emiliano Cruz (13-4, 12 KOs), Tijuana, Baja California, México.

CO-FEATURE – LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

Lester Martinez (11-0, 10 KOs), Guatemala City, Guatemala

WTKO5 (0:10).

Jaime Hernandez (9-6, 4 KOs), Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico

LIGHTWEIGHTS

Marco Cota Moreno (6-0, 4 KOs), Empalme, Sonora, México

WDEC4 (40-36, 40-36, 40-26)

Jonathan Perez Zuniga (6-4, 6 KOs), Morelia, Michoacán, México

SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS

Armando Ramirez (6-0-1, 2 KOs), Celaya, Guanajuato, México

WDEC8 (78-76, 78-76, 78-76)

Edgar Espinosa Vargas (7-2, 6 KOs), Guadalajara, Jalisco, México

FEATHERWEIGHTS

Héctor Pérez Cruz (7-0, 5 KOs), Tepic, Nayarit, México

WDEC6 (60-54, 60-54, 60-54

Víctor Tadeo Rodríguez (3-1, 3 KO), Tepic, Nayarit, México

CESAR FRANCIS BEATS MOHAMED MIMOUNE IN PROBOX PROMOTIONS MAIN EVENT

Panamanian contender Cesar Francis (10-0, 6 KOs) scored a 10-round unanimous decision win against Mohamed Mimoune (22-5, 3 KOs) of Toulouse, France in the main event of a ProBox Promotions show on Friday night in Plant City, Florida.

Francis, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, won with scores of 94-93, 95-92 and 95-92. The event took place at the ProBox Events Center.

“We fought against a veteran,” said Cesar Francis. “I barely had nine fights, but I still won the fight. This is what I wanted. I want challenges. I want big fights. I’m happy I took and overcame the challenge.”

In the co-main event, Christian Thun (8-0, 6 KOs) of Schwelm, Germany defeated Amron Sands (11-2, 9 KOs) of Orlando, Florida in a heavyweight fight. Thun ended matters at 2:22 of the first round.

Najee Lopez (4-0, 4 KOs) of Ellenwood, Georgia delivered a vicious beating on Anthony Stewart (6-2-2, 4 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama before winning by TKO at 2:29 of the fourth round of a cruiserweight battle.

Jusiyah Shirley (4-0, 4 KOs) of Orlando, Florida scored a fourth-round stoppage win over Javonni Bennett (1-0) of Chicago, Illinois in a super lightweight clash. The fight was stopped at 2:31 of the round just mentioned.

Darrelle Valsaint (3-0, 2 KO) of Orlando, Florida scored a first-round knockout win against Geronimo Nahuel Sacco (9-4-1, 1 KO) of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The fight was stopped at 2:04 of the aforementioned round.

Jaycob Gomez (3-0, 3 KOs) of Caguas, Puerto Rico defeated fellow countryman Pedro Hernandez (7-11-1, 2 KOs) at 2:03 of the third round of a super featherweight bout.

Super middleweight prospect Daniel Blancas (1-0, 1 KO) of Milwuakee, Wisconsin scored a brutal knockout victory against Andre Graham (0-1) of Arvada, Colorado in his pro debut. The official time of the stoppage was 2:02 of the second round.

Eric Abraham (7-13, 3 KOs) of Schenectady, New York defeated Marsellos Wilder (5-3, 2 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama via four-round split decision in a cruiserweight bout. Abraham won with two scorecards of 58-56, while one judge had it the same for Wilder.