VeShawn Owens produced the biggest victory of his seven-year pro career Saturday night.
Owens pressured welterweight contender Kudratillo Abdukakhorov for most of their 10-round, 147-pound, regularly landed the flusher punches and defeated the Uzbekistan native comfortably on all three scorecards at The Armory in Owens’ hometown of Minneapolis. Judges Scott Erickson (98-92), Jon Schorle (99-91) and Kyle Shiely (97-93) all favored Owens’ aggression over Abdukakhorov’s attempts to mostly pot-shot Owens while boxing off his back foot.
Both orthodox boxers often fought from southpaw stances, but Owens was more effective. Abdukakhorov also faded in the final few rounds of a fight Showtime streamed on its YouTube channel as part of the Subriel Matias-Jeremias Ponce undercard.
Owens (14-3, 12 KOs) fought for the first time since unbeaten WBA super lightweight champion Alberto Puello topped him by unanimous decision in their 10-rounder in December 2021 at The Armory.
Abdukakhorov (18-2, 10 KOs) ended a 14-month layoff as well. Prior to Saturday night, he hadn’t fought since undefeated Canadian southpaw Cody Crowley beat him by 10-round unanimous decision in December 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Perhaps sensing that their fight was closer on the scorecards than it was, Owens went after Abdukakhorov throughout the 10th round. Abdukakhorov appeared tired by that point in their fight.
Owens’ left hook caught Abdukakhorov as Abdukakhorov attempted to move away from him with just under a minute remaining in their fight. Another left hook by Owens connected several seconds before the final bell ended.
Abdukakhorov attempted to keep his distance from the aggressive Owens throughout the ninth round. A right hand by Owens stung Abdukakhorov with about 10 seconds on the clock in the ninth round.
A flush right hand by Owens knocked Abdukakhorov into the ropes and seemed to buzz him about a minute into the eighth round. Owens went after Abdukakhorov at that point, but Abdukakhorov remained on his feet and later landed hard shots of his own in the eighth round.
Abdukakhorov was warned for a low blow that landed about 40 seconds into the eighth round.
Owens’ right hand landed as Abdukakhorov was bent over just before the midway mark of the seventh round. Abdukakhorov connected with a left hand out of a southpaw stance 1:05 into the seventh round.
Owens’ straight right backed up Abdukakhorov with 25 seconds remaining in the sixth round. A leaping left hook by Abdukakhorov landed barely 40 seconds into the sixth round.
Abdukakhorov caught Owens with a right hand that connected with just over 50 seconds to go in the fifth round. Owens’ right hand made Abdukakhorov move away from him at the halfway point of the fifth round.
Owens’ speed enabled him to land two right hands in the final 10 seconds of the fourth round.
Earlier in the fourth round, Owens grabbed the back of his head to indicate Abdukakhorov hit him with a rabbit punch. Abdukakhorov clocked Owens with a right hand as Owens partially turned away from him at that point.
A counter left hook by Owens knocked Abdukakhorov off balance with about 1:10 to go in the fourth round. Owens’ right hand landed flush about 20 seconds into the fourth round.
A straight left by Abdukakhorov backed up Owens with 25 seconds remaining in the third round. Owens drilled Abdukakhorov with a right hand that connected with just over 1:50 on the clock in the third round.
Abdukakhorov rocked Owens with a right hand just as the second round concluded. Abdukakhorov’s left-right-left combination made Owens back up with just over 1:50 on the clock in the second round.
Abdukakhorov and Owens traded punches throughout an action-packed first round. Owens’ right hand knocked Abdukakhorov off balance with about a minute to go in the opening round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.