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Stephon Young and Nikolay Potapov fight to majority draw

Fighters Network
16
Apr
Stephon Young (R) fends off Nikolay Potapov. (Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime)

Stephon Young (R) fends off Nikolay Potapov. (Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime)

Bantamweight Stephon Young could have easily defeated Nikolay Potapov Friday night. The problem was he conceded too many rounds early on in the fight.
Instead, Young and Potapov fought to a majority draw after 10 rounds at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.
Young adds another draw to his ledger, 14-0-3, 6 knockouts. Potapov goes to 14-0-1, 6 KOs.
With almost identical records going into the fight, it was intriguing to see which of the two fighters would stand out and take the next step forward towards contender status.
It seemed as though it would have been Potapov, as he took the initiative during the first four rounds, creating opportunities while Young chose to sit back and counter. Potapov managed to throw combinations, connecting with rights to the head and body.
Young finally got things going midway through the fight. He began to throw regularly and was able to score with his own series of right hands.
Both had their moments in the second half of the fight. Both fighters mixed their attacks, at times choosing to fight or stand and trade in the pocket, producing decent exchanges.
Young seemed to push the initiative more at the end of the fight, but may have regretted not starting his attack sooner.
One judge scored the bout 96-94 in favor of Potapov, while the other two judges scored the bout even at 95-95.
Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime

Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime

Menard stops Bernardo
Lightweight Mason Menard scored a highlight-reel, one-punch knockout over Eudy Bernardo in the third round.
With the win, Menard improves to 31-1, 23 KOs, while Bernardo drops to 21-1, 15 KOs.
Menard, who had fought only once outside his home state of Louisiana prior to Friday night, seemed to apply pressure as the bout progressed. His persistence paid as a series of blows dropped Bernardo in the second round.
Menard continued to put Bernardo on the defensive in the third round, beating him to the punch. With less than a minute left in the round, Menard unloaded a right cross that dropped Bernardo flat onto his back, prompting an immediate stoppage at 2:11.
Bernardo remained on the canvas while ringside physicians attended to him. Bernardo was carried out of the ring on a stretcher as a precaution, but it was reported later in the evening he was awake and alert in his locker room.
The knockout win could be considered a leading candidate for knockout of the year thus far.
Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime

Photo: Rosie Cohe/Showtime

Bejenaru decisions Zubov
In the opening bout of the ‘ShoBox’ broadcast, cruiserweight Constantin Bejenaru won an eight-round unanimous decision over Alexey Zubov.
Bejenaru goes to 11-0, 3 KOs, Zubov drops to 10-1, 6 KOs.
It was the southpaw Bejenaru who was the busier fighter, scoring often with counter left crosses to the head of Zubov. Sensing he was down in the fight, Zubov began to throw with more urgency, connecting more with right hands.
It was a right hand that dropped Bejenaru at the beginning of the seventh round. Bejenaru was not hurt, but had to hold off Zubov in the final round.
All three judges scored the bout in favor of Bejenaru, 78-73, 78-73, and 77-74.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing

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