Pak pugilist Waseem, UK’s Selby shine at Rotunda Rumble in Dubai

Muhammad Waseem and Andrew Selby underlined their world title credentials with one-round victories at #RotundaRumble in Dubai. Pakistan’s former world title challenger Waseem destroyed Conrado Tanamor with three lethal left hands – the finisher to the body – after Selby had outclassed Worawatchai Boonjan and Rohan Date had also wowed the crowds.

Earlier the action got underway with undefeated Indian Karthik Kumar scoring a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Mohamed Pesa before home fighter Anahit Aroyan controversially lost her unbeaten record with a split decision defeat to Jasmina Nad.

Kazakhstan’s rising middleweight Abay Tolesh (4-0, 3 KOs) continued to impress with a systematic four-round destruction of Mfaume Mfaume before Dutch super-lightweight Anthony De Bruijn blasted to 5-0, 3 KOs with a one-round stoppage of Thanawat Yancharoen.

There was no let-up in the entertainment as Afghanistan’s teen sensation Hasibullah Ahmadi earned a split decision win over Shidong Cai to move 7-0 and Germany’s Abass Baraou then showcased his talent by dropping Abdelghani Saber twice on his way to victory inside a single round.

The world-ranked Selby then kicked off life under MTK Global in style with a one-sided battering of Worawatchai Boonjan; ultimately halting his man inside a minute and a half.

Dubai’s boxing hero Majid Al-Naqbi (3-0, 1 KO) then entertained an increasingly boisterous home crown with an action-packed unanimous decision over a plucky Chuansheng Zhang before another local resident Date took to the ring.

Irishman Date (10-0-1, 8 KOs) was in lethal form to enhance his reputation once again with a one-round stoppage of Pardeep Kharera – and Waseem needed no second invitation to round off a fantastic night of boxing in style.

In the immediate aftermath, MTK Global and Round 10 Boxing Club proudly announced a swift follow-up event: #RotundaRumble2 will take place at the same arena on Nov.22, live on iFL TV worldwide.

Rotunda Rumble Fight Results:

Karthik Kumar (India) def. Mohamed Pesa (Tanzania) – Unanimous Decision

Jasmina Nad (Serbia) def. Anahit Aroyan (Armenia) – Split Decision

Abay Tolesh (Kazakhstan) def. Mfaume Mfaume (Tanzania) – TKO, 4thRound (1:43)

Hasibullah Ahmadi (Afghanistan) def. Shidong Cai (China) – Split Decision

Abass Baraou (Germany) def. Abdelghani Saber (Egypt) TKO, 2nd Round (2:01)

Anthony De Bruijn (Netherlands) def. Tanawat Yancharoen (Thailand) – TKO, 1st Round

Andrew Selby (UK) def. Worawatchai Boonjan (Thailand) – TKO, 1st Round

Majid Al Naqbi (UAE) def. Chuansheng Zhang (Taiwan) – Unanimous Decision

Rohan Date (Ireland) def. Pradeep Kharera (India) – TKO, 1st Round 1:08

Muhammad Waseem (Pakistan) def. Conrado Tanamor (Philippines) – TKO, 1st Round 1:02


Elsewhere, Devin Haney stopped Zaur Abdullaev after four rounds to win their WBC interim lightweight bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday.

The 20-year-old dominated from the start to win the bout that should catapult Haney to a fight with champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

“Lomachenko, this guy doesn’t want to fight me,” claimed Haney, the mandatory challenger for the WBC, WBA and WBO belts owned by Lomachenko. “I’m ready to fight. Lomachenko should be fighting me.”

He might, but the Ukrainian also is interested in unifying the lightweight title, which would mean taking on the IBF champion, Richard Commey, next.

That’s how boxing goes these days, but as many observers at Madison Square Garden noted, Haney is only going to get better and stronger as he matures.

Ring doctors ended the fight with Abdullaev at the bell to start the fifth round, citing a suspected broken cheekbone for the Russian. He never challenged Haney and was blooded in the fourth.

Haney is 23-0 and it’s the 15th time he has stopped an opponent. He has made no secret that Lomachenko, considered by some the world’s best fighter, is on his radar.

Haney, 20, looked solid in his first bout at the Garden’s theater. His jab was quick and he landed several strong combinations in controlling the action.

Earlier, Amanda Serrano outclassed Heather Hardy with a relentless attack to take away the WBO women’s featherweight title and grab the WBC interim crown. They are two of America’s best women boxers, though Serrano was born in Puerto Rico.

“It was a great night,” Serrano said, thanking her fans for their support after winning a unanimous decision.

“She is as tough as they come,” Serrano added about Hardy, who looked done in the opening round. “She stayed for 10 rounds.”