(January 20, 2024) – Aram Faniian won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) world Light Welterweight title in spectacular fashion on Saturday night, January 20, in Kyiv, Ukraine.
With minus 25 degrees outside, Faniian brought the heat and scored a seventh round knockout over Mexican co-challenger Francisco Mercado, who was game as they come, but had to capitulate.
The local boxer, from nearby Brovari, started best, but was seriously hurt in the fourth round and had to dig deep to survive, but then got back on track and boxed excellently.
Mercado tried to make it a war from that point but missed his chance to score a huge victory for his career, and when Faniian landed a huge right hand in round seven, and followed up with a left right combination to flatten the Mexican, it was all over.
A very impressive performance from the new WBF world champion, who improved his professional record to 24-2 (6). Mercado, a late substitute, falls to 8-4 (3).
