Paris (AFP)
French boxer Souleymane Cissokho retained his WBA intercontinental super-welterweight belt by beating Russian Ismail Iliev by abandoning the call for the 5th round on Friday at the Roland-Garros central.
The bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 (30 years old) signed his 14th victory among professionals (9 before the limit), inflicting on Iliev the third defeat of his career (for 13 successes).
The former captain of the "Solid Team" at the Rio Olympics, who had stolen this intermediate belt from the Englishman Kieron Conway in May in Arlington (Texas) in front of a crowd of 70,000 people, largely dominated the debates.
He sent Iliev to the mat on a terrible right in the 4th round.
The Russian camp, hit in the left eye, then preferred to throw in the towel.
The French Souleymane Cissokho sends the Russian Ismail Iliev to the mat, during their fight for the WBA intercontinental super-welterweight belt, September 10, 2021 at the Roland-Garros central FRANCK FIFE AFP
Cissokho, who signed a contract with Matchroom, Eddie Hearn's promotion company at the end of 2019, which notably deals with Anthony Joshua, WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion, was initially to be on the card for the next fight. of the English, scheduled in London on September 25 against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
But he has agreed to change his plans for boxing's big comeback at Roland Garros, performing in France for the first time since September 2019.
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