Balzsay, Senchenko Win World Title Bouts In Ukraine

The vacant WBA super middle strap was up for grabs last night at Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine and Hungarian southpaw Karoly Balzsay emerged with the title after 12 difficult rounds against local man Stanyslav Kashtanov.

Former WBO champ Balzsay used his edge in big fight experience to control the pace and outbox the rugged Kashtanov, who previously held the WBA youth and EBU-EE straps.

But Kashtanov made Balzsay earn the victory as the Donetsk man applied pressure throughout the fight and troubled the visitor with sustained body assaults.

After 12 rounds, Balzsay was awarded a unanimous decision by margins of 116-111, 115-113 and 115-114.

Balzsay improves to 27-2 (15), while Kashtanov suffers his first loss and now stands at 28-1 (15).

Also on the bill, WBA welter strapholder Viacheslav Senchenko, 32-0 (21), stopped 38 year old challenger Marco Antonio Avendano, 30-8-1 (22), in the sixth frame.

33 year old Senchenko retained his title for the third time since winning it from fellow Ukrainian Yuriy Nuzhnenko two years ago.

Avedano came into the contest with three consecutive KO victories over humble opposition after losing a Interim WBA light middle title clash to Nobuhiro Ishida in 2008.

Colombian light welter import Ignacio Mendoza, 31-6-2 (20), shocked undefeated local southpaw Volodymyr Kravets, 24-1 (15), with a stunning first round KO to cage the vacant WBA International belt.