Photos: Radzhab Butaev's ninth-round stoppage of Jamal James
Radzhab Butaev became a major player in the welterweight division on Saturday.
The Las Vegas-based Russian broke down and then stopped highly regarded Jamal James (27-2, 12 KOs) in the ninth round at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, thus positioning himself for a shot at a major title.
Butaev (14-0, 11 KOs) could face the winner of a projected fight between WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas and Eimantas Stanionis.
Here are images from the Butaev-James fight. All photos by David Becker of The Associated Press