06.10 - Undefeated, hard-hitting junior welterweight and 2000 Uzbekistan Olympic Gold Medallist, Mohamad Abdulaev, served notice that he is one of the division's top young prospects when he scored a sensational first-round knockout over Juan Antonio Lopez Saturday on SHOWTIME. In the co-feature, the bout between unbeaten heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev and Rob Calloway ended in a third-round technical draw. The fights, promoted by Vlad Warton's Millennium Events, Inc., were televised by SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT from COBO Center.

Abdulaev (10-0, 8 KOs), of Uzbekistan, scored the first of his three knockdowns approximately three seconds into the scheduled 10-round match. Rushing out after the opening bell sounded, he landed a quick left hook to the jaw that dropped Lopez for an eight-count at center ring. About a minute and a half later, the promising Abdulaev put Lopez down again, this time from an overhand right. The bout was stopped after a left hook dropped Lopez at 2:36 of the round. Abdulaev also scored three knockdowns in his SHOWTIME debut when he registered a third-round TKO over Juan C. Rivera May 11, 2002, on "ShoBox: The New Generation." Abdulaev captured the gold medal in the 139-pound division by defeating Ricardo Williams 27-20 in the finals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Abdulaev also defeated Williams during the second round of competition at the 1999 United States World Championships, prior to capturing a gold medal at the competition. During a stellar amateur career in which he also defeated highly regarded pro, Miguel Cotto, Abdulaev won more than 270 bouts.

Lopez (18-3-1, 13 KOs), of Dallas, Texas, never recovered from the first knockdown. He tried to fight back but was no match for Abdulaev, who was too strong and talented.

Chagaev (5-0-1, 4 KOs), of Uzbekistan, was in almost total command and appeared headed for a certain victory when the scheduled 10-round bout was stopped at 2:41 of the third round. The southpaw had dominated the action, bloodied Calloway's nose and cut him badly above the left eye. When the referee, Ron Cunningham, upon the advice of ringside physician, Evans Farres, halted the action at 2:41 of the third round, it appeared to most that Chagaev had earned his sixth consecutive win. But instead of going into the books as a TKO, it was ruled a technical draw when the referee ruled that Calloway could not continue due to an earlier unintentional headbutt. In Michigan, if a bout is stopped before it goes at least half the rounds -- in this case, five -- it is a technical draw. Chagaev registered an eight-round unanimous decision over Christopher Issac in his SHOWTIME debut May 11, 2002 on "ShoBox." Chagaev was a teammate of Abdulaev's on the Olympic team A two-time world amateur champion, and Chagaev defeated legendary Cuban boxer Felix Savon to capture the gold medal at the 1997 World Championships.

Calloway (41-4, 31 KOs), of Kansas City, Mo., said that the unintentional headbutt hindered his ability to retaliate although he showed a lot of heart throughout. Calloway's fringe World Boxing Federation (WBA) Americas heavyweight crown was not at stake.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING's Steve Albert and former world champion Bobby Czyz called the action from ringside with Jim Gray served as roving reporter. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins producing and Chuck McKean directing.

Photos (c) Tom Casino/Showtime