Abdullaev retains WBC Silver title
Russian Zaur Abdullaev (15-1, 9KOs) defeated former world champion Venezuelan Jorge Linares (47-7, 29KOs) by TKO in the 12th round to retain his World Boxing Council Lightweight Silver title in a fight that was also an eliminator, at the RCC Boxing Academy, in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
A three-weight world champion, now in the 20th year of his pro career, Linares began by imposing the rhythm of the fight, keeping his rival away. His speed and concentration gave him the advantage in the initial rounds, however, as the fight progressed, everything evened and then leveled out.
The once-beaten 27-year-old, Abdullaev, drove him to the ropes, where the veteran fought back to defend himself, throwing blows from unconventional angles.
The last round decided everything. Both went for broke, but 36-year-old Linares ended up running out of gas and the younger man from Europe took the opportunity to hurt and stop him in the final moments of the fight in a dramatic finish.
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