Imam Khataev tested but TKOs Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna

Light heavyweight Imam Khataev extended his knockout streak to eight with a seventh-round stoppage of Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna on Thursday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal.

The stoppage came at 0:45 of the seventh.

Khataev (8-0, 8 KOs), a 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, faced his toughest challenge yet, going beyond six rounds for the first time in his career. Russia’s 30-year-old Khataev, often compared to fellow countryman and light heavyweight unified titleholder Artur Beterbiev, had difficulty breaking down the 37-year-old Maderna, whose experience and movement kept Khataev at bay early in the fight.

Maderna (31-13, 21 KOs) appeared to take the opening round, using his boxing skills to frustrate Khataev, who was looking to land big shots. In the second round, Khataev wobbled Maderna with a left hook and a cut opened over Maderna’s right eye from an accidental head-butt. Despite the blood, Maderna continued to fight back, landing counterpunches that forced Khataev to be cautious.

As the fight progressed, Khataev took control in the middle rounds, though Maderna’s jab and resilience kept the contest competitive. Maderna landed a hard right hand in the fourth round that momentarily stunned Khataev, who appeared fatigued and frustrated at times.

By the fifth and sixth rounds, the fighters stood toe-to-toe, exchanging heavy blows, with Khataev landing the more powerful shots. Maderna, however, remained effective, using his jab to disrupt Khataev’s offense.

The bout ended in the seventh round when Khataev landed a series of body shots, followed by a jab that forced Maderna to take a knee. The referee stopped the fight shortly after.

Despite securing another knockout, Khataev showed some vulnerabilities, particularly his reliance on power over an active jab, which allowed Maderna to dictate the pace at times. Nevertheless, Khataev continues to build momentum as he approaches contender status in the light heavyweight division.

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.