By Alexey Sukachev & Dmitry Mikhachuk at ringside

Kiev, Ukraine - Former European champion Oleg Yefimovich (27-2, 14 KOs) had to work really hard and to dig really deep in order to find his way to a close but rewarding twelve-round unanimous decision over Ruddy Encarnacion, an old warrior whose real-life Cinderella story was stopped by the Ukrainian at its peak. By doing that WBA #11 Yefimovich acquired his former blue belt and added WBA continental title too.

Yefimovich, 34, held the EBU title for two years in 2008-2010, making four defenses of the belt before losing it controversially to Sofiane Takoucht in August 2010. He was 9-0, 3 KOs, since that but his career was marred by unfortunate political (and later military) situation in Eastern Ukraine, which forced him to fight only sporadically for the last three years.

Encarnacion, 36, originally from the Dominican Republic but now fighting of Spain, started his pro career with three consecutive losses. Just four years ago he was below the negative line of .500 with a record of 23-24-3. However, he scored twelve wins and a single draw after that, making himself a tough cookie to deal with - at least at the continental level. Feeling it was his most probably last chance for glory Encarcnacion tried to press action against the native of Ilovaysk. Yefimovich showed good footwork but he also was vulnerable for quick straight right hands of the Spaniard. On the other hand, Encarnacion had problems with the left of Yefimovich.

The first half was almost even, with Encarnacion showing more grit and a bit more consistency in getting to his opponent's chin. Yefimovich made some adjustments later one, started to rock Encarnacion with his left hands time and again. The Spaniard was dropped briefly by Yefimovich at the beginning of round seven and he also faded during the second half of the bout for the Ukrainian to stampt his win over Encarnacion. Final scores were: 117-110, 118-109 and 117-111 - for Oleg Yefimovich. BoxingScene had it 116-112 - also for the Ukrainian. Encarnacion drops down to 35-24-4, 17 KOs.

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In a mismatch, Hungarian no-hoper (albeit with a vastly padded record - as always) Gabor Molnar was demolished in two by super bantamweight Olexander Yegorov (15-1-1, 8 KOs). Molnar was in survival mode right from the opening bell with zero chance to survive. He was running and turning his back numerous times in the first but wasn't seen on canvas. It was corrected in the second stanza, when Yegorov firstly dropped him with a body shot and later finished him off with more hurtful punches to get a stoppage win at 1:21 of the second round. Molnar is now 17-9, 11 KOs. Yegorov retained his little-relevant UBO 122lb title.

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Hungarian journeymen are basically far less-than-mediocre but this load in Kiev, Ukraine, was specifically poor consisting of nothing more than pitiful cannon fodder. Another proof was presented by Robert Kanalas, barely a prizefighter at all, who was dropped four times by the WBA #9 flyweight Artem Dalakian (12-0, 8 KOs), who retained his WBA Continental title for the first time. Kanalas is now 11-6, 8 KOs. Interestingly, Dalakian crushed Robert's younger brother David two and a half years ago - also in the very first round.

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Former WBA featherweight title challenger Stas Merdov (35-8, 25 KOs) came back to the ring at the age of 39 and had to work very hard in order to outpoint hard-nosed Serbian import Dzemil Cosovic (3-7-3). Scores were: 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55 - for Merdov but in reality this fight was much closer. In December 2011, the lanky Ukrainian pushed long-time featherweight king Chris John to the limit, losing on points just narrowly. Four years and just three fights after Merdov doesn't look like he belongs anywhere near the elite.

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Ukrainian welterweight Dmytro Fedas (7-0-1, 4 KOs) made an expectedly short work of Hungarian trialhorse Gergo Vari (16-12-1, 3 KOs). Fedas dropped Vari with a body shot - once in the second and twice in the third round for an easy stoppage victory.

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Dark-skinned Ukrainian Vladyslav Baranov (3-1, 3 KOs), still 20, proved his ultimate talent with an easy second-round kayo over usually durable Georgian Alexander Benidze (13-18-2, 6 KOs). Baranov lost his first fight narrowly on points but was almost unstoppable ever since. Benidze was crushed clearly for the first time in his career.

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Light heavyweight Igor Kudritskiy (2-0, 1 KO) stopped fellow countryman Vladimir Romanenko (0-2) in three rounds. Romanenko was down in the second round.

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Welterweight Eduard Skavinskiy (2-0) got an easy win over Georgian import Giorgi Gviniashvili (7-1-1, 4 KOs) over four rounds. Scores were identicak: 40-36 - across the boards.