RISING Kazakh contender Bek Nurmaganbet needed just three rounds to bludgeon Steven Sumpter to defeat in the ‘Open Workout Fights’ card at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas last night.
Considerably smaller than his opponent, Sumpter was hovering about in the corner when a couple of swift hooks dropped him in round two. After receiving the count from referee Allen Huggins, Sumpter resumed his position under pressure for the remainder of the round.
This all-southpaw affair would not last much longer as Bek pinned his high-guarded foe to the ropes and proceeded to pummel him mercilessly. Sumpter’s only respite came from occasional dives into centre ring where he held on for dear life.
Sumpter’s face was starting to swell and blood stained the Massachusetts man’s hand wraps as the third man, Mr Huggins, inched forward more and more, waiting for an excuse to stop it. There was a lengthy discussion between rounds three and four as Huggins, the doctor and Sumpter’s corner conspired to end the massacre.
A super-middleweight ‘Battle of the Beks’ would be interesting if Nurmaganbet were to be matched with Bek ‘The Bully’ Melikuziev, a 16-1 Uzbek who was last seen defeating Darius Fulghum, also in Las Vegas.
Victory improves Bek Nurmaganbet’s record to 15-0 (13 KOs). He now sits on the verge of a title shot. Steven Sumpter drops to 11-2-1 (9 KOs), his first loss came to Najee Lopez on ProBox TV last year.
On the undercard, heavy-handed Cuban Brayan Leon Salgado was forced to go the distance for only the second time in his fledgling career (now 9-0 with 7 KOs), as rugged Washington southpaw Devontae McDonald extended him the full eight.
Aged just 20, Liverpool’s Mikie Tallon found a way onto this big card and did not disappoint, handing in a six-round points win over youthful Mexican Christian Robles, who was dropped twice on the way to defeat.
Elsewhere, Florida-based Cuban Yoandy Toirac suffered a slight setback as he drew over six rounds with savvy spoiler Skylar Lacy. Saudi middleweight hope Abdullah Darkazanly blasted away Californian Kody Koboski in three rounds.
