WSB: Mumbai Fighters go down 0-5 against Astana Arlans

Mumbai: After last week’s clean sweep, it was time for Venky’s Mumbai Fighters to be at the receiving end in the World Series Boxing encounter on Friday as the team went down 0-5 against the visitors at T-Box Mobile Arena, Inorbit Mall in Mumbai.

After a promising start, Balbir Singh of Venky’s Mumbai Fighters had to struggle a lot to answer the incessant punches and jabs of the opponent Khabibulla Ismail Akhunov of Astana Arlans.

In a unanimous decision of the judges, Khabibulla was declared winner in the Bantamweight category by 44:50, 44:50 and 45:49. Balbir also had warning from the referee for hitting the opponent below the belt.

Next in the ring was the newly crowned Lightweight national champion Diwakar Prasad against Astana Arlans’ Yerzhan Mussafirov who is ranked number 1 and has a 7-3 WSB record. After winning two consecutive rounds with unanimous decision of the judges, Diwakar lost the third round and in the fourth round he was declared technical knock-out.  

Venky’s Mumbai Fighters’ hopes were set on its latest addition in the team, Sanjin Pol Vrgoc (Croatia), three time national champion, in the Middleweight category. He was placed against Astana Arlans’ Miras Bairkhanov who stood with 0-1 WSB record. After losing first two rounds, Sanjin won the third round and returned in the bout. However, in the fourth round he was declared technical knock-out by the referee.

After 0-3, in Light Heavyweight Leanid Charnabayeu (Belarus) was fighting for Venky’s Mumbai Fighters against the number one WSB boxer Astana Arlans’ Abdelhafid Benchabla. After losing first two rounds, Leanid in the third round had some power-packed punches winning all cheers from the supporters of Venky’s Mumbai Fighters at the T-Box Mobile Arena. The houseful arena with over 1,000 boxing fans was abuzz with the fans jumping with every punch Leanid delivered. Keeping up with his reputation, Abdelhafid Benchabla sealed the bout with a win in a unanimous decision of the judges 46:49, 45:50, 45:50. 

Krishan Kumar was the last one to enter the ring the Heavyweight category to take on Chouaib Bouloudinats. Defensive Krishan Kumar could not pose any serious threat to the opponent and went down 0:3 with 45:50, 45:50, 45:50.

Results

BANTAMWEIGHT: Balbir Singh Vs Khabibulla Ismail Akhunov
Result: Winner - Khabibulla Ismail Akhunov (0:3)
LIGHTWEIGHT: Diwakar Prasad vs Mussafirov Yerzhan
Result: Winner - Mussafirov Yerzhan (Technical knockout - Diwakar)
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Sanjin Pol Vrgoc vs Miras Bairkhanov
Result: Winner -  Miras Bairkhanov (Technical knockout - Sanjin Pol Vrgoc)
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: Leanid Charnabayeu  vs  Abdelhafid Benchabla
Result: Winner Abdelhafid Benchabla (0:3)
HEAVYWEIGHT: Krishan Kumar vs Chouaib Bouloudinats
Result: Winner - Chouaib Bouloudinats (0:3)

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