Uzbekistan’s Murodjon "MJ" Ahkmadaliev stops Issac Zarate by a ninth-round TKO

A decorated amateur and Olympic bronze medal winners now being trained by Joel Diaz, Ahkmadaliev delivers impressive combinations of power punches. He made Zarate eat hard shots to the head and the body round after round from all directions. But Zarate didn't wobble and kept coming, forcing Ahkmadaliev to keep coming and work hard for the win.

The accumulated punishment from Ahkmadaliev finally convinced referee Eric Dali to step in and stop the fight at 1:17 of the ninth round. Zarate remained on his feet, but was in no position to win and didn't argue the good call.