Muslim Gadzhimagomedov helped fill the void left behind by a disgraced former titlist.
The 27-year-old Russian battered China’s Zhaoxin Zhang within the fourth spherical of their vacant WBA bridgerweight title battle. Gadzhimagomedov bloodied and picked aside Zhang till a mercy stoppage was issued at 2:50 of spherical 4 Friday in Serpukhov, Russia.
Evgeny Tishchenko (12-1, 7 knockouts; 1 No-Contest) beforehand gained the inaugural title final December. A stoppage win over Leon Harth topped a brand new titleholder.
The reign was temporary and in the end voided when Tishchenko popped scorching for banned substances.
Gadzhimagomedov (4-0, 3KOs) was recreation to revive honor at a weight division nonetheless solely embraced by few within the sport. The 2020 Olympic Silver medalist delivered a efficiency that warranted consideration, even when versus a restricted opponent.
Zhang (12-3-1, 7 KOs) is a step under the accelerated competitors that Gadzhimagomedov has confronted in his younger profession. To his credit score, he earned the fitting to be right here after a wild, off the canvas upset knockout of Evgeny Romanov in February.
There was by no means the specter of Friday’s fundamental occasion not going chalk. Gadzhimagomedov repeatedly landed flush photographs on the inviting Zhang, who was bloodied and brutalized by means of three rounds.
It was a testomony to Zhang’s preventing coronary heart that he remained upright. Gadzhimagomedov unloaded throughout the fourth spherical and landed clear photographs down the center.
Zhang was wobbled and defenseless as Gadzhimagomedov slammed residence a last mixture earlier than the referee issued a mercy stoppage.
Gadzhimagomedov beforehand stopped former cruiserweight title challenger Artur Mann within the eighth spherical final December. It came about on the identical IBA present as Tishchenko-Harth.
With Friday’s win, Gadzhimagomedov now joins Lawrence Okolie on the bridgerweight title stage. Okolie (20-1, 15 KOs) grew to become a two division titlist when he snatched the WBC bridgerweight strap from Lukasz Rozanski in a first-round knockout in Might.
