Shabranskyy stops Unthank May

In the ESPN-televised co-main event from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (19-1, 16 KOs) captured the vacant WBC USNBC Light Heavyweight title with a seventh round stoppage of previously unbeaten Todd Unthank-May (10-1-1, 4 KOs) in a scheduled ten-round bout.

Unthank-May, described by Golden Boy Promotions as a protégé of Bernard Hopkins, gave Shabranskyy trouble early with his fast hands, landing punches before Shabranskyy could set his feet or counter. Unthank-May’s lack of power hurt him though, as he landed several punches flush on Shabranskyy that did not cause the damage they should have. Shabranskyy, on the other hand, hurt Unthank-May several times with the right hand, opening a cut near Unthank-May’s left eye in round two, and visibly rocking his unbeaten opponent on several occasions.

Shabranskyy also suffered a cut near his left eye in round three, but by round four appeared to have the measure of Unthank-May, landing his jab and right hand with ease as Unthank-May’s left side of his face became a bloody mess. In round five nearly everything Shabranskyy landed snapped Unthank-May’s head back, with Shabranskyy having particular success targeting the cut near his opponent’s left eye.

In round seven Shabranskyy was landing at will and by the end of the round Unthank-May looked ready to go. His corner apparently agreed, as the bout was halted at the end of round seven.