1.
GV Victor Rybakov wearing red shorts v. David Tarasyan. Tarasyan leading with left and right to body.
0.21

2.
CU Judges
0.24

3.
SV Rabakov landing blows to the body. They go into clinch, break, carry on boxing with Rybakov landing punches to body and into clinch again
1.26

4.
GV Boxers break from clinch and carry on boxing with Rybakov leading on points.
1.46

5.
CU Time keeper.
1.50

6.
GV Rybakov blocking punches as bell sounds for end of last round
1.58



Initials RH/2318 RH/JB/AW/2332



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The European amateur bantamweight boxing champion, Victor Rybakov, took the Soviet bantamweight title on Saturday (27 March) in a fight against David Tarasyan.

The fight was very close throughout.

Tarasyan led with a number of punches to the body and head but these were blocked. Rybakov returned the assault with some of the style he had shown in winning the European championship.

David Tarasyan has won the Soviet bantamweight title on two earlier occasions. But this time, the final decision was given to Rybakov on points after the fight had gone for the full three rounds.

Victor Rybakov is 20 years old and has lost only four of his 96 fights in the five years of his boxing career. In 14 international meets he has won 12 times. He became European amateur champion in 1975.

The fight between Rybakov and Tarasyan was part of the 42nd. USSR Boxing Championships. There were 198 boxers taking part in the preliminaries with 22 reaching the finals.

The 11 winners will be going on to represent the Soviet Union at the Montreal Olympic games later this year.

SYNOPSIS: Victor Rybakov, - wearing red shorts - beat his fellow countryman, David Tarasyan, on Saturday to take the Soviet amateur bantamweight title. Both boxers are old rivals and know each others style of fighting very well. The fight went on for the full three rounds, with the final decision be awarded on points. Rybakov is also European amateur bantamweight title-holder.

Rybakov began to pull ahead in the final round. Earlier, Tarasyan had led with a number of punches to the body and head but these were blocked as Rybakov fought back.

Rybakov fought with some of the style he had shown in winning the European amateur title in 1975. Leading with left and rights to the body, he began to pull ahead on points in the third round. David Tarasyan has won the Soviet bantamweight title on two earlier occasions - but this time, the final decision went to Rybakov on points.

Victor Rybakov's bantamweight title adds to a long list that he already holds. He has lost only four of some 96 fights in the five years of his boxing career. In 14 international completions he has won 12 times. He took the European amateur bantamweight title in 1975.

The fight between Tarasyan and Rybakov was part of the 42nd. Soviet Boxing Championships. The 11 winners will be going on to represent the Soviet Union at the Montreal Olympics.