EKATERINBURG, Russia – In a battle of southpaws, South Africa’s Zolani Tete retained his WBO bantamweight belt in a poor fight against four-fight novice Mikhail Aloyan from Russia.
Tete won via a unanimous 12-round points decision at the Ekaterinburg Expo in Ekaterinburg, Russia on Saturday night.
Judges Zoltan Enyedi and Mike Fitzgerald both scored it 114-111, and judge Manuel Oliver Palomo had it 114-110.
In this World Boxing Super Series quarter-final, the WBO supervisor was Istvan Kovacs and the referee was Kenny Chevalier.
Tete, 30, scored a knockdown in the first round when Aloyan’s glove touched the canvas.
The bout can only be described as an ugly holding and foul-filled fight, with both fighters pushing, holding and shoving throughout.
💥 @zolani_tete takes to the ring in style! 💥 #TeteAloyan #WBSS2🏆 #AliTrophy pic.twitter.com/nuTcBece5t
— World Boxing Super Series (@WBSuperSeries) October 13, 2018
Tete was deducted a point in the 10th round for holding, and so was Aloyhan, 30, in the 11th round, also for holding.
Well done to @zolani_tete on winning in Russia, retaining his WBO World Title title and advancing to the next round of @WBSuperSeries
— Frank Warren (@frankwarren_tv) October 13, 2018
This was a clash of styles with the much taller Tete towering above the shorter Aloyan, a former Olympian and amateur world champion.
Tete improved his record to 25-3-21. and Aloyan saw his record drop to 4-1-0.
Zolani Tete gets stuck into Mikhail Aloyan. Photo: @WBSuperSeries via Twitter