Murat Gassiev (21-0, 15 KOs) scored a ninth-round TKO victory over Felix Cora Jr. (25-7-2, 14 KOs) to retain his IBF Intercontinental Cruiserweight title at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
The scheduled 12-round fight headlined a night of action promoted by Roc Nation Sports and which was televised on Fox Sports 1 in the U.S.
Gassiev stalked Cora early with an unending assault to the body.
The plan was to evidently tire the older Cora by working his body and by relentlessly pressuring him.
The plan paid off in Round 9 when a vicious flurry forced referee Johnny Callas to finally stop the fight.
Gassiev, a native of Russia who is trained by Abel Sanchez, continues his rise in the Cruiserweight rankings.
Also on tonight’s card were Ray Robinson (20-2, 9 KOs) and Dusty Hernandez-Harrison, who both scored unanimous decision victories in their respective fights.
Photo by 7th Legendary
Robinson, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dropped Sherzodbek Alimjanov (22-3-2, 13 KOs) in Round 4 before completely outclassing him for the rest of the 10-round fight.
Robinson earned the WBO NABO Welterweight crown with tonight’s win.
Hernandez-Harrison, who fought today at Super Welterweight, scored an eight-round decision win against Chris Gray (13-20-1, 1 KO).
The Washington, D.C. native continued his undefeated streak with a stay-busy fight against the usually iron-chinned Gray.
