In the bustling atmosphere of Stockton Arena, California, a thrilling boxing event unfolded on Saturday. The evening, aired on ESPN+ and ESPN, was presented by Bob Arum's Top Rank. The Main Event had audiences at the edge of their seats as WBO Middleweight champion, Janibek “Qazaq Style” Alimkhanuly (14-0, 9 KOs), took on Steven “Bang Bang” Butler (32-4-1, 26 KOs).
The main event saw Alimkhanuly, the WBO World Middleweight champion, launch a successful offensive against the NABF champion, Butler. The first round saw Alimkhanuly taking it relatively easy, conserving energy for the rounds to come. However, round two demonstrated his power and precision in the ring. An uppercut from Alimkhanuly left Butler reeling, and a subsequent onslaught of punches floored him for an 8-count. Referee Jack Reiss allowed Butler ample time to recover, but Alimkhanuly’s relentless attack, drawing blood from Butler’s nose and knocking him down again, forced Reiss to call the bout at 2:35 of the second round.
Official fight highlights: Watch Prelims on Youtube
The co-main event pitted WBC Silver and WBO International Bantam champion Jason Moloney (26-2, 19 KOs) against Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, 13 KOs) for the vacant WBO World Bantam title. The fight proved to be a tough contest, with Moloney securing a majority decision after 12 hard-fought rounds. The first two rounds saw Moloney taking a slight advantage, but Astrolabio struck back in the third, leaving Moloney hurt. Despite the setback, Moloney held his own in the fifth and sixth rounds, effectively using his jab while countering Astrolabio’s strikes. The seventh round saw Moloney continue his effective boxing strategy, which he carried through the ninth and tenth rounds, throwing more power punches than in previous rounds. The final round saw Astrolabio throwing wild punches in an attempt to score a knockout, but Moloney continued to out-land him. The scores read 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 in Moloney’s favor.
Official fight highlights: Watch Prelims on Youtube
Image Credit: Top Rank