Kenneth Sims Jr 20-2-1 (7) will continue his rise up the rankings following his gritty majority decision win over fellow contender Batyr Akhmedov 9-3 (8) at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
In a see-saw battle that saw both boxers gain the ascendancy only to lose it, the fight went right down to the wire with the judges eventually scoring the bout in favour of Sims 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114.
Chicago’s Sims, 29, had to overcome severe swelling around his right eye to see the fight out to the final bell.
The action was fast and furious and never let up. According to CompuBox, Akhmedov and Sims combined to land 640 punches – 331 for Akhmedov and 309 for Sims – the most for any fight they have tracked this year.
Akhmedov landed 262 power punches, including 117 to Sims’ body at a 45% clip. Overall, he landed 40% of his power punches.
Not to be outdone, Sims bested him by landing 46% of his power punches, a feat even more impressive considering the amount of body punches he absorbed. Sims hurt Akhmedov at the end of the ninth round. In rounds 10 through 12, Sims landed 87 power punches to Akhmedov’s 82.
“This is what I’ve been waiting on for years,” said WBA number 10 Sims, who extends his win streak to seven.
“I’m not supposed to be here right now. That’s what they say. Ain’t nobody thought I would be here right now. And I know that I’m the best so at 140, it’s whatever. I’m ready for anyone.”
Ukrainian southpaw Akhmedov, 32, who was ranked WBA number three going in to the fight, has only lost to top tier fighters. For years ago he dropped a competitive decision to then-WBA ‘regular’ champion Mario Barrios and last August he was trumped by Alberto Puello by split decision for the vacant WBA belt.
Sims’ two losses came on ShoBox against fellow prospects.
“This is what I expected,” said Sims. “This is what I expected of him but I’m a savage. I’m a dog. I have that dog in me. And that’s what I was saying during this whole time leading up to this that I had that dog in me and I was going to show them. My eye wasn’t bothering me. I don’t care. Like I said, I’m a savage. I don’t care.”
Akhmedov thought he did enough to secure the victory.
“It’s like every time I don’t stop my opponent it’s like they win,” he said. “It seems like it’s a goal against me. If they reach the 12th round it’s like they already won and they’re already celebrating because the judges give it to them.
“Look at the punch stats. It’s the third time in a row. I won again. I’m winning rounds, I’m throwing more. I’m hurting him more. He’s surviving seven rounds out of 12.”
