Novosibirsk - Fighting for the first time in front of his hometown fans as a pro, WBC #8 ranked super middleweight Pavel Silyagin experienced a tougher-than-expected resistance from hard-nosed Tanzanian power puncher Abdallah Shabani Pazi.

Silyagin cruised to a unanimous decision over ten rounds - wrestling out the WBO Asia Pacific 168lb title in process - but lacked something extra to shine as bright as he possibly should have. It didn't spoil the celebrations at all, marking the first notable prizefighting card in several years in the heart of Western Siberia.

The fight was the main event of the evening, staged by Premier Boxing Academy, a relatively new promotional outfit governed by famed Russian coach Eduard Kravtsov. at the Locomotiv Arena in Novosibirsk, Russia. Silyagin, 27, has been very active recently, winning thrice since December 2020. That includes a major victory over undefeated Uzbek Azizbek Abdugofurov in a chief support of Artur Beterbiev vs. Adam Deines in March 2021. 

Pazi, 28, was also active yet with mixed results. His biggest asset - the regional title - came with a quick road stoppage of Chinese Zulfikar Mamaitiali in August 2019 but he was demolished by former champion Rocky Fielding right after that. He had been 3-2, 3 KOs, after losing to the Englishman. Interestingly, Pazi's record includes a draw and a loss to Twaha Kassim and a loss to Bek Nurmaganbet, who have both fought tonight (between each other)

Silyagin started the way he ended his last fight, his hands down and trying to force Pazi into a trap. Pazi obliged and immediately showed his biggest strength - a rock-solid chin. He sustained Silyagin's power punches, blocked as much as he could and marched forward - inescapably... and to no avail. Silyagin landed much more but Pazi also scared him in the first with a huge right to earn some respect. And it followed just the same way after that.

The fight made a mild turn to more telling domination of Silyagin in the fourth, and he dropped Pazi at the end of the round with a left hook. Silyagin was aware of the Tanzanian's punching power yet tried cautiously to add more fire in the fifth. Pazi responded with a very huge right bomb that forced Silyagin into a clinch. The Russian fighter continued to box smartly in rounds six and seven, throwing multiple combinations but Pazi was undeterred.

The Tanzanian continued his march in the ending rounds, despite eating more with each fought. Yet he responded with some right hands of his own, never letting Silyagin into proximity of a stoppage. All in all, it was a solid, workmanlike win for Pavel Silyagin as well as a valuable lesson. Maybe a bit more has been anticipated from the homecoming though.

The decision was unanimous. No scores were announced. BoxingScene had it 99-90 - for the Russian, who moves up to 8-0, 4 KOs. Pazi drops down to 29-10-1, with 26 KOs.

------------------

In the subsequent swing bout, light welterweight Gor Khachatryan looked sensational in destroying Colombian import Jose Luis Prieto (28-10, 18 KOs) in three minutes. Khachatryan, 23, was bombing the Colombian for an entire three minutes, finally putting him down and arguably breaking his chin with a massive right hand at the bell. Prieto, 36, was unable to continue. Khachatryan is now 2-0, 2 KOs - both in the first.