Armenian boxer from Gyumri, Hovhannes Bachkov (7-0), secured an impressive victory in Dubai by knocking out Jose Rivas Bastardo (10-1) in the second round and claiming the WBA Continental super lightweight championship belt.
The 32-year-old Armenian controlled the fight from the very first seconds. He dominated the first round and increased the pace in the second, acting even more aggressively. After a powerful liver shot, Bastardo was unable to get up, and the referee declared Bachkov the winner by knockout.
For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, this was his seventh professional boxing victory, with six of them coming by stoppage.
Bachkov's opponent, a 30-year-old Venezuelan, had been undefeated until this fight and had competed exclusively in his home country.