Akhmadaliev lands harder punches
By Anthony Cocks
Murodjon Akhmadaliev 8-0 (6) claimed the WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles with a split decision victory over reigning champion Daniel Roman 27-3-1 (10) night at Meridian at Island Gardens in Miami, Florida on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old Uzbek southpaw, who won bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics, claimed the world championships by scores of 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115.
Akhmadaliev planted his feet in the early rounds as he went searching for the knockout, but Roman weathered the storm behind a tight guard to box on even terms through six.
The challenger was clearly the bigger puncher, but Roman worked well off a stiff jab, digging to the body and landing his signature uppercut.
Unfortunately for the champion nothing he could do would deter Akhmadaliev, who continued to march forward no matter ow much punishment was dealt out.
Roman had a good round in the ninth, but any thought that the inexperienced Akhmadaliev would fade in the later rounds proved wrong with the challenger attacking the body and opening a cut over Roman’s right eye in the 10th.
Akhmadaliev had the upper hand in the 11th but Roman finished strongly in the 12th, emptying his tank knowing he needed an impressive finish to win.
In the end, it wasn’t enough.
Punch stats indicated just how close the fight was with Roman landing 150-728 of total punches (21%) to 153-498 (31%) for Akhmadaliev.
The fight was the fifth defence of the WBA title Roman, 29, won it Japan three years ago and the first defence of the IBF title he won last April in a fight of the year candidate against TJ Doheny.
The former unified champion was disappointed with the result but gracious in defeat.
“I’m a fighter,” he said, “I’ll fight anybody they put in front of me. I would love to rematch. This will make me a better fighter.”
Akhmadaliev now joins Leon Spinks as a unified world champion in just is eighth pro bout.