Fazliddin Gaibnazarov drops, decisions Dilanyan

2016 Olympic gold medalist Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of Uzbekistan made his Russian pro debut and looked very solid in a one-sided beatdown of Armenian journeyman Manuk Dilanyan over eight rounds. No scores were announced for the unanimous decision but 80-71 would be a nice measuring stick for this contest.

Welterweight southpaw Gaibnazarov, no spring chicken at 29, made his debut in the U.S. and went 7-0 before running into ultra-lanky Mykal Fox, losing a unanimous decision. He then relocated to the Old World and started to show the promise he once ignited with his amateur achievements.

Bigger, taller Dilanyan tried hard to deliver heat to the Olympic champion but the difference in ability was very hard to overcome. Gaibnazarov dropped Dilanyan with a well-placed liver shot late into the third and cruised to 9-1, 5 KOs. Dilanyan, 26, is now 11-5-1, 4 KOs.

Evgueny Chuprakov (23-3, 12 KOs) was a world-title challenger – which saw a seventh-round TKO loss to Masayuki Ito – less than two years ago. Now, he is struggling with club fighters, working hard to overcome their resistance.