Akhmadaliev Gets Impressive Win, Calls Out Inoue

Former unified world champion Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan (13-1, 10 KOs) made it uno, dos, and adios with three knockdowns in round three to finish off Ricardo Espinoza of Mexico (30-5, 25 KOs) with seamless ease. The official time was 2:59 of the round. Akhmadaliev wins the vacant WBA interim super bantamweight title in the Monte Carlo main event.

Akhmadaliev made quick work of his Mexican southpaw opponent with wicked right and left hooks. Espinoza was an easy target to find, standing right in front of the Uzbek and coming forward. While Espinoza might have made it out of the round if he held or evaded Akhmadaliev after the first or second knockdown, the end was inevitable.

Inoue Put On Blast For Avoiding Akhmadaliev

The real action came after the fight as Akhmadaliev, Marchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn, and Akhmadaliev’s manager Vadim Kornilov all laid into unified champion Naoya Inoue of Japan. Akhmadaliev has been Inoue’s mandatory challenger twice, but Inoue and the WBA made other plans.

Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn blasted Naoya Inoue for ducking MJ Ahkmadaliev on two prior occasions. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

“Why is he ducking me?” said Akhmadaliev via translator. “He don’t want to fight to me. He just need to explain, because when I was a champion, I follow the rules, and he should follow the rules as well. You know, I have mandatories. I was fighting them without any discussion. So I need (an) explanation because I’m here and ready for the fight.

“The best should be fighting the best,” added Akhmadaliev. He just should prove that he’s the best in his division. He’s a legend. He should prove it as well.”

Hearn insisted Inoue has avoided Akhmadaliev. “The first time, they paid for an exception to duck MJ. The second time was cast iron in writing; he had to fight him. They found a way to avoid it again.

“Naoya Inoue is a pound-for-pound legend. We respect him. He’s an unbelievable fighter, but there’s one thing he hasn’t got, and that’s Uzbek power, right? I’m telling you, there is only one fighter in the division that can even compete with him, let alone beat him. And that’s MJ, and I tell you now, you log this: this man will beat Naoya Inoue. He has all the skills, all the ability, all the pedigree. I fully believe he will beat him. We will do it in Japan,” said Hearn.

Murodjon Akhmadaliev made his case for a title fight against unified champion Naoya Inoue. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Hearn said it may be Inoue’s team deciding to avoid Akhmadaliev rather than the fighter. “Let the best fight the best. It’s the only fight in the division. It’s one of the best fights in the sport. And I’ll tell you what. I bet the house on it.” Hearn then predicted Inoue would never fight Akhmadaliev, vacating his titles after his mandatory challenge with Sam Goodman.

“I bet you, I bet you, I bet you. They avoid him, and if they do, don’t start calling him pound for pound number one.”

Kornilov added, “At the end of the day, respect the sport. I mean, all the organizations always follow the rules. They make the rules. The athletes follow the rules. I mean, like, how do you explain it?”

Kornilov said Inoue should relinquish the WBA title to move up a division if he won’t face Akhmadaliev. “He has that option. He can move up and wait instead of fighting all these other guys. His promoters, his team, have to say something to at least respect this champion. Now,” concluded Kornilov.

It was a sensational performance for MJ, who found himself working his way back to the top of the super bantamweight division after being derailed by the loss to Marlon Tapales.

Ferreira Defends Title

Beatriz Ferreira couldn’t stop Licia Boudersa, but she put on a dominating performance to retain the IBF Lightweight World Title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

IBF lightweight champion and 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil (6-0, 2 KOs) successfully defended her title with ease against Licia Boudersa of France (23-3-2, 4 KOs).

Ferreira is a fearsome puncher and a superb body puncher. Ferreira is used to three-minute rounds in Olympic competition. Boudersa wouldn’t have lasted to the final bell if Ferreira had an extra minute to work with. The scores were 100-90 across the board.

“I thought it was a good fight. I’m still finding my rhythm in the professional game, but I’m still improving all the time. I’m going to carry on with this division and dominate it,” said Ferreira. Nicknamed “The Beast,” Ferreira said she’s all about collecting belts. The current champions are Caroline Dubois, Terri Harper, and Katie Taylor.

Mosquea Makes Noise With Win Over Clarke

Leonardo Mosquea announced himself in the cruiserweight division, defeating prospect Chev Clarke for the vacant EBU European Cruiserweight Title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Cruiserweight Leonardo Mosquea, a native of the Dominican Republic based in France (16-0, 9 KOs), scored a first-round knockdown against favored British cruiserweight Chev Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs).

Clarke couldn’t dig himself out of the hole in a close, competitive fight. Mosquea wins the vacant European cruiserweight title with scores of 116-112 and 115-112 for Mosquea, and a third card for Clarke, 117-113.

The left hook was the money punch for Mosquea, who scored the knockdown with a repeated series of left hooks to drop Clarke for the first time as a pro.

“For me, it represents so much. It represents all the work we put in over the years, going step by step. It’s all part of the journey, and the work hasn’t finished. We still have a long way to go. We’ll get to the top,” thanking his team and his sparring partners.

Mosquea believes it was his mindset and his speed that made the difference with the judges. “He has a hard punch, but I’ve got one too, and he knows that. Right from the start, I got his respect, and from there, I was in his head,” crediting the first-round knockdown for setting the tone for the rest of the fight.

Mosquea proved game and durable, and a decent puncher. Clarke and his team counted on wearing Mosquea down, but he had plenty of stamina through all 12 rounds.

Hughes Takes Out Cully

Veteran Maxi Hughes had his way with Gary Cully, winning the WBA Lightweight Continental belt.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Veteran Maxi Hughes of England (28-7-2, 6 KOs) took it to Gary Cully of Ireland (18-2, 10 KOs) from the opening bell and never let up through ten rounds, dominating Cully in a complete shutout on the scorecards, 100-90 on all three for an impressive victory.

Hughes began visibly roughing up Cully’s face in the first round and opened a wicked cut above Cully’s left eye in the sixth round with a straight right. It seemed certain the fight would be stopped, but Cully soldiered on to the final bell. There was little point other than pride.

Gary Cully suffered a wicked cut on a punch by Maxi Hughes, but managed to see the final bell. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

“So proud of everybody for coming out and making that noise,” said Hughes to his British supporters in the casino. “As much as it’s for me, it’s for you lot as well,” said Hughes, as well as his six year old daughter watching at home. “I’m 35 next, and I feel as fresh as ever,” said Hughes. “If you want to run with the dogs, you can’t be pissing like a puppy! There’s still plenty of fight in this dog.”

After back-to-back losses to George Kambosos Jr. and William Zepeda, Hughes’ boxing career was in the intensive care unit. Now, he has won the WBO Continental Americas belt and puts himself in a position for several solid matchups at lightweight. Cully’s future is uncertain after a terrible performance.

Teremoana Wins Second Debut With KO

Teremoana took out Volodymyr Katsuk in their heavyweight bout. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Opening the five-fight card, Australian heavyweight Teremoana Junior Teremoana (5-0, 5 KOs) called Saturday’s fight his second pro debut after taking time off to compete in the Paris Olympic Games. Teremoana went through former Oleksandr Usyk sparring partner Volodymyr Katsuk of Ukraine (5-2, 2 KOs) like a knife through butter, scoring a first-round knockout.

Teremoana celebrates his win by performing the Pe’e Haka, from his native Cooke Islands. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing.

Teremoana treated the Monte Carlo fans to a haka dance after the win, a tribute to his Cook Islands heritage. Keep this man busy in 2025.