Home Columns Sultan Zaurbek vs Ronnie Clark – Results & Post-Fight Report

Sultan Zaurbek vs Ronnie Clark – Results & Post-Fight Report

Zaurbek overcomes returning Clark in Kazakhstan

Ronnie Clark was beaten on points by Sultan Zaurbek on his return after over three years out
Ronnie Clark was beaten on points by Sultan Zaurbek on his return after over three years out

MTK Global promoted at the Bhulan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Sultan Zaurbek took a landslide ten round points win over Ronnie Clark in the main event to take the vacant WBO European Super Featherweight title.

Home favourite Zaurbek (11-0, 7 KOs) is a highly-touted prospect after a decorated amateur career, and the 25-year-old passed his latest test with flying colours. Clark (21-5-2, 10 KOs) was taking a significant risk in his first fight back since a February 2018 majority verdict win over Zelfa Barrett, in what was one of the domestic upsets of that year.

It was a risk that was just too big for the Dundee native, as Zaurbek won all ten rounds on two cards, and nine on the third, with a 100-90 (twice), 99-91 victory that moved the home fighter to 11-0 as a professional.

Another hot prospect is Tursynbay Kulakhmet, and he moved to 4-0 (3 KOs) with a tenth and final round stoppage of Aleksei Evchenko, who came in at short notice for this Super Welterweight affair.

Kulakhmet poured on the pressure in the final round, and a left-right combination had a tired Evchenko (19-15-2, 8 KOs) on the floor. He bravely beat the count, but further pressure from Klakhmet drove Evchanko towards the ropes, where a sustained assault forced the referee to step in.

There was a mild upset at Lightweight, where former world title challenger Isa Chaniev (15-3, 7 KOs) took the unbeaten record of Nurtas Azhbenov (11-1, 4 KOs), with a third round knockout victory. A massive right hand crumpled Azhbenov’s legs from under him, with the fight waved off immediately.

Double Olympic Bronze Medallist, Ivan Dychko, moved to 10-0 with as many knockouts, as he halted Denis Bakhtov (39-19, 26 KOs) inside a round of their Heavyweight meeting with a highlight reel knockout.

At Super Lightweight, Yersin Nurkenuly (0-1) lost his professional debut, as Sagadat Rakhmankul (7-2, 5 KOs) forced him to retire after two rounds, while Kanagat Manatuly (6-1, 4 KOs) took a ten round decision win at Flyweight against Bekzhan Abubakir (2-3, 1 KO).

In two scheduled Welterweight eight rounders, Talgat Shayken (5-0, 3 KOs) stopped Alexander Sharonov (12-6-2, 6 KOs) in seven rounds, and Rey Seitzhanov (7-0, 4 KOs) retired Maxim Churbanov (8-9-1) after three sessions.

Other Results

Super Middleweight: Dauren Yeleussinov (9-1-1, 8 KOs) RTD6 Arman Rysbek (7-2, 6 KOs).

Featherweight: Yerzhan Zalilov (12-3-2, 6 KOs) TKO7 Bagdat Uaydayev (5-1, 1 KO).

Super Lightweight: Rakhat Seitzhan (6-0, 3 KOs) UD6 Ruslan Baituov (0-2).

Featherweight: Aidos Medet (7-0, 5 KOs) RTD2 Kostiantyn Stadnyk (5-8-2, 2 KOs)

Welterweight: Nurbol Sultanbay (5-1, 2 KOs) TKO1 Umurbek Beknazarov (0-3).