Barthelemy claims IBF title

Las Vegas' final fight of 2015 was a clash of styles — and heads.

Rances Barthelemy used his superior boxing skills to hold off a brawling Denis Shafikov on Friday at the Palms and win the vacant International Boxing Federation lightweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision.

Barthelemy (24-0) was ahead with the judges 119-109, 116-112 and 116-112 to claim a belt in a second weight division after being the IBF's super featherweight champion in 2014.

"I was really impressed with Shafikov's warrior style," Barthelemy said. "He never gave up even after getting damaged and punches that were affecting his fight. That really caught me by surprise, and that he was able to last the whole fight.That really says something about him as a fighter."

Shafikov (36-2-1) fought valiantly. He worked inside and, despite suffering a nasty cut over his right eye in the seventh round, never backed down.

However, Barthelemy did more with his jab and followed up over the top with his left hand. It was enough to convince the judges, as they had him comfortably ahead, particularly Robert Hoyle, who gave Barthelemy the 119-109 score.

"I'm not sure if I won the fight," Shafikov said. "It was very close. I'm very disappointed and I want a rematch."

Barthelemy appeared to lack energy early in the fight, and his strategy was questionable, as he allowed Shafikov to work inside. But he adjusted, picked up the pace over the second half of the fight and was able to keep Shafikov away from him.

Still, they clashed heads repeatedly during the fight, though the cut over Shafikov's right eye was not attributed to a head butt.

The final stats showed Barthelemy landed more overall punches (260-228), more jabs (49-37) and more power punches (211-191).

"There were moments when I was trapped into my style of fighting," Barthelemy said. "It took me a minute to adjust to Shafikov's style and exchange punches with him. I'm really happy with the number of punches I was able to get off against him."

In the co-feature, Murat Gassiev's 12-round cruiserweight bout against Isiah Thomas was ruled a no contest after Gassiev hit Thomas twice in the head after the bell to end the third round and Thomas could not continue.

Referee Jay Nady conferred with the ringside physician, and with Thomas unable to go on, Nady stopped the fight. And with the fight having gone fewer than four rounds, it was declared a no contest.

On the undercard, Mickey Bey didn't let a 15-month layoff negatively impact him, as the Las Vegas-based lightweight outpointed Naim Nelson to win a 10-round unanimous decision.

Bey (22-1-1) pitched a shutout with two of the judges, who scored it 100-90 while the third had it 99-91. He consistently landed his right hand and kept Nelson (12-1) off-balance.

"I felt good," Bey said. "There was very little ring rust. He was a tough fighter, but I feel great with the victory.

"This is the first time in four years that my (right) hand hasn't bothered me. I'd like to be back in the ring as soon as possible, January or February. I'm the best lightweight in the world and I want to get my belts back."

Las Vegas junior middleweight and former IBF champion Ishe Smith bounced back from his Sept. 12 loss to Vanes Martirosyan with a convincing 10-round unanimous decision over Tommy Rainone.

Smith, who improved to 28-8, was ahead 100-90 with all three judges., Rainone dropped to 24-7-1. Smith worked the body effectively and controlled the fight from the outset.

"I had a lot of questions about myself going into this fight," the 37-year-old Smith said. "I thought I fought well and I answered some of those questions. I stayed patient, didn't get careless, and I'm going to keep going (in 2016). I need to pass those big tests and try and get my belt back."

Also, lightweight prospect Gervonta Davis improved to 14-0 with a ninth-round knockout of Luis Sanchez (17-5-1). Davis unleased a vicious left uppercut that dropped Sanchez, and he was counted out at 2:05.

In an entertaining back-and-forth battle, Eric Walker (12-0) handed junior middleweight Chris Pearson (13-1) his first professional loss, taking an eight-round unanimous decision (80-72, 79-71, 78-74).

Walker attacked from the opening bell and had Pearson on the defensive, and if he had a little more power, he could've put Pearson away. Pearson battled back and hurt Walker a couple of times in the fifth and sixth rounds, but it wasn't enough.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj