Murad Khalidov Stops Sergey Kuzmin in Saint Petersburg Upset

Saint Petersburg, Russia - Murad Khalidov (11-0, 6 KOs) didn’t let a decade-long hiatus stop him from producing a stunning seventh-round knockout over Sergey Kuzmin (19-3, 14 KOs) in an all-Russian heavyweight clash on Monday night in Saint Petersburg. The 37-year-old Khalidov hadn’t boxed professionally since 2014 and spent much of the interim in bare-knuckle competition, while Kuzmin, 38, had faced the likes of Martin Bakole and Michael Hunter without ever being stopped.

You’d never have known it from the fight itself. From the opening bell, both men fought at a furious pace rare for the division, but Khalidov was sharper and more active, beating his countryman to the punch throughout. The early rounds were thrillingly balanced — Kuzmin banging the body with both hands, Khalidov snapping back his head with uppercuts and straight rights. Each round carried the sense that a knockout was coming — only the identity of the victim remained unclear.

Khalidov’s straighter punches and tighter defense began to separate him in the middle frames. He found success with short counters and hard left hooks to the body that took the steam out of Kuzmin’s wider swings. By the fourth and fifth rounds, Khalidov was landing clean head shots from mid-range while absorbing Kuzmin’s body work in stride. Kuzmin’s chin remained iron, but his legs began to show wear.

The fight grew ragged as fatigue set in. Kuzmin rallied late in Round 5 and momentarily had Khalidov backpedaling, but the momentum quickly swung again. Two crushing right hands in Round 6 finally wobbled Kuzmin and opened a cut near his right eye. By the bell, he was bleeding and labored, leaning on the ropes as the referee looked closely.

Khalidov closed the show decisively in Round 7. After a brisk exchange, a clean counter left hook staggered Kuzmin back toward the ropes. Sensing his chance, Khalidov let loose a final barrage culminating in a straight right that dropped Kuzmin hard. The referee waved it off without a count midway through the round.

Analysis – A Return Few Saw Coming

For Khalidov, this was the stuff of comeback fantasy — an aging fighter re-entering the professional ranks after 11 years away and knocking out a seasoned, durable opponent on national television. His punches were short, accurate, and well-timed; his conditioning held when it mattered. It was the kind of performance that injects a new face into the Eurasian heavyweight conversation.

The body work was particularly effective — Khalidov routinely dug left hooks and straight rights into Kuzmin’s midsection, setting up his head attacks later on. By the seventh, those earlier investments paid off as Kuzmin’s resistance finally broke.

For Sergey Kuzmin

Kuzmin’s first stoppage loss is a major setback. He had been known for durability — lasting the distance with Bakole and Hunter — but appeared flat and under-prepared after another long layoff. At 38, this may mark the transition from contender to veteran gatekeeper. Still, his willingness to trade and his early body work showed that he remains a capable professional if matched carefully.

What’s Next for Khalidov

Khalidov is suddenly relevant. At 37 and undefeated, he holds a marketable story and a notable win in the region. Whether he can build momentum depends on activity — and whether major Eastern promoters decide to push him further. The Russian and Central Asian circuits are quietly crowded with experienced fighters searching for a breakthrough, and Khalidov just earned his entry ticket.