(Photo Credit: Nabeel Ahmad/Premier Boxing Champions) The action heated up in round two as Shafikov landed a leaping right hook that drove Herring onto the ropes for a ruled knockdown. Shafikov of Miass, Russia continued to land hard power shots in round three as he cracked several straight left hands to Herring’s head.
Round five proved to be one of Shafikov’s best, as he hurt Herring with an overhand left that set off a flurry of power punches on the ropes. Herring, who fights out of Cincinnati, showed an immense amount of heart as he emerged from the attack with blood coming from his mouth, but a determination to prevail. By round seven, Herring was cut around his right eye, but he continued to battle on the inside, trading with Shafikov.
