By Alexey Sukachev

Former world title challenger Petr Petrov (32-3-2, 15 KOs), also known as the “Czar” in Spain, continued his 2012 comeback on Saturday, Nov. 24, with a well-earned sixth-round TKO over Georgian import Mikhail Avakian (17-8-1, 6 KOs) in Madrid.

Petrov, 29, originally from Ryazan, Russia, is best known for his crushing defeat at the hands of light welterweight terror Marcos Rene Maidana a year ago. That bout has been fought at the light welterweight limit but since then Petr has come back to the 135lb division, where he belongs. A kayo win over Avakian was his third this year.

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Another world title challenger at the same weight class will be seen in action on Dec. 15 at Budivelnik sports arena in Cherkassy, Ukraine. It’s where WBO #11 140lber Sergey Fedchenko (31-2, 14 KOs) will put his WBO European title at risk against Azerbaijani Azad Azizov (26-3-2, 16 KOs). The show will be promoted by K2 Ukraine.

“Professor” Fedchenko, 31, is best known for his unsuccessful shot at the WBO light welterweight title in April against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez, the fight he had lost via a wide decision. Azizov, 29, is less known, and his record seems padded to a degree, but at the right night he can be a tough challenge.

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Yet another former title contestant and one, who got much closer than Fedchenko or Petrov to his biggest career achievement, won a small but proud regional belt on Friday night at Godvil Club in Riga, Latvia.

It’s where Sergey Gulyakevich (39-2, 16 KOs) notched his 8th win in 2012 by stopping badly overmatched compatriot Andrey Gromyko (9-4-3, 9 KOs) in the third round. Gromyko was down in the second and in the third rounds of this virtual mismatch.

Meanwhile, Gulyakevich is a new Baltic Boxing Union lightweight champion. He is better known as the European super featherweight titlist in 2007-2009 and for his spirited majority decision loss to Humberto Gutierrez in 2009. Gulyakevich lost a year and a half to due to a severe promotional disorder but he's been a wrecking ball since coming back to the ring this March. His next fight is scheduled for six and will take its place in England against Hollander Innocent Anyanwu (21-7-2, 13 KOs).

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Super bantamweight Andrey Bogdanov (16-1-1, 6 KOs), reigning Russian and former Baltic Boxing Union super bantamweight champion, continued his winning series with his best victory so far. On Saturday night in his native Pskov Bogdanov crushed Thai university graduate Vacharakrit Senahan (24-5, 12 KOs) in four rounds.

Bogdanov, 31, dominated the early stages of the fight with his activity. Senahan was down hard at the end of the third and was saved by the bell. He went out for round number four and was soon knocked out cold by a vicious right hand of Bogdanov. Senahan has suffered the fifth kayo defeat in the same number of losses. Meanwhile, the bout is listed incorrectly as a TKO 3 – for the Russian. Promoter of the show was Igor Sudilainen.