Undefeated welterweight Radzhab ‘The Python’ Butaev 14-0 (11) claimed the biggest scalp of his career with ninth-round knockout of Jamal ‘Shango’ James 28-2 (12) t the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Russian applied relentless pressure James, systematically breaking him down until referee Celestino Ruiz stepped in to stop the contest at 2:12 of the ninth.
Butaev invested early and often in a body attack that slowed down the 33-year-old from Minneapolis as the rounds progressed. Fighting long in the early rounds, the six-foot-two James was forced to engage at close quarters in the later stages of the fight as Butaev turned it into his style of fight.
The fight was competitive for the first four rounds before Butaev started to grind James down. Butaev was able to switch from orthodox to southpaw effectively to keep James guessing at the angle of his punches.
At the time of the stoppage, Butaev had a 175-121 edge in punches landed according to CompuBox. He also connected with a whopping 44.5% of his power punches and even out-jabbed James 46-36, beating him at his own game.
At the time of the stoppage judges Max DeLuca and Don Trella both had Butaev leading the fight 77-74. Judge Patricia Morse Jarman had James up 76-75.
“This is very important for me,” said Butaev, who claimed the WBA ‘regular’ 147-pound belt with the win. “It’s a big first step. It’s always been my dream to become a world champion. I took the first step today and I’m very happy.
“We worked hard on switching up and did it in sparring and it worked so we kept doing it.
“I felt it could have ended a lot worse. I thought it was stopped at the right time. Tonight he showed a lot of heart. He showed a lot of heart tonight.”
With the WBA looking to clean up the messy business of super, regular and interim champions, Butaev looks to be in line for a shot at fully-fledged titleholder Yordenis Ugas 27-4 (12) who is coming off a breakthrough win over Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao 62-8-2 (39) in August.
Ugas was ordered by the WBA earlier this month to face number one contender Eimantas Stanionis 13-0 (9). The 35-year-old Cuban was hoping to face WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 27-0 (21) in a unification bout.
James, who was having his first fight in more than a year, was classy in defeat.
“A big shout out to Butaev, he did his thing tonight,” he said. “I’d rather go out on my shield if I’m going to go out. I thought it was a very competitive fight but that’s why we have a referee.
“He was just a better man tonight. I don’t want to make any excuses. I couldn’t keep him at range and I think rust played a part of it. But that’s boxing. Sometimes it’s not your night.”
