Janibek Alimkhanuly wowed the crowd at the Stockton Arena in California, as he defended his WBO middleweight title in ruthless fashion by halting Steven Butler in the second round of their bout.
The Kazakh had won the interim belt last year before being upgraded to full champion, and he defended in a points win against Denzel Bentley at the back end of 2022. Butler had challenged for the WBA belt in 2019, stopped in five by Ryota Murata in Japan.
Janibek (14-0, KO9) began in stalking fashion in a quiet first round, and after feeling the Canadian out, he went to work a round later. A short and sharp uppercut shook Butler (32-4-1, KO26) to his boots, and a swarm of punches had him on the canvas. He beat the count, but the end was inevitable, and with Butler still on unsteady legs, Janibek went for the kill, and a volley of punches sent Butler to the deck once more. He again beat the count, but a massive right hand flattened him, and the fight was over.
.@QazaqStyle did not disappoint tonight 🍿@BoostMobile x #JanibekButler pic.twitter.com/qGpWuzefnH
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 14, 2023
Jason Moloney (26-2, KO19) became world champion at the third attempts he claimed the vacant WBO bantamweight title with a majority decision win against Vincent Astrolabio (18-4, KO13). In a tight contest, one judge scored the fight a 114-114 draw, but was overruled by two tallies for Moloney by scores of 116-112 and 115-113.
Jason Moloney is bringing the gold back home to Australia 🇦🇺 #JanibekButler pic.twitter.com/Kl23VlMFk9
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 14, 2023
Brian Norman Jr (24-0, KO19) remained unbeaten, but was taken eight hard rounds by Jesus Antonio Perez Campos (24-5, KO18). Norman came through 77-75 (twice) and 78-74 on the scorecards.
Gabriel Flores Jr (22-2, KO8) wasted little time in his lightweight eight round contest with Derrick Murray (17-9-1, KO6) as a massive counter left hand flattened Murray with just over 30 seconds gone.
Gabriel Flores Jr gets back in the sun column with a vicious left hook knockout inside 30 seconds of round 1! #AlimkhanulyButler
pic.twitter.com/oY4lepfr4m— Diarios-Journals (@DiariosJournals) May 14, 2023
Ruben Villa (20-1, KO7) dominated Maickol Lopez Villagrana (16-5, KO8) in their featherweight attraction, dropping the Mexican in the fourth before scoring a fifth round stoppage.
THAT LEFT HAND. @Ruben_Villa4 in his bag tonight 💼 pic.twitter.com/pYYWHYO698
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 14, 2023
Javier Martinez (8-0-1, KO2) and Joeshon James (7-0-1, KO4) couldn’t be separated in a super middleweight eight rounder, as their meeting was called a draw. A verdict of 79-73 for Martinez, and a 77-75 one for James were ruled redundant with a third 76-76 card being returned.
