SHO boxing results: Tony Harrison stops Sergey Rabchenko in nine

Detroit’s Tony Harrison made it three straight wins following his loss last year to Willie Nelson, showcasing a patient, measured approach and setting up a ninth round TKO win over Sergey Rabchenko tonight on Showtime.

Harrison (24-1, 20 KO) did as much as Rabchenko (27-2, 20 KO) made him do, basically, which for most of the fight was not much. Normally a solid volume puncher, Rabchenko was held to just 257 punches thrown, kept at bay by Harrison’s quick jabs, even if they didn’t land.

A lot of jabs did, though. Harrison connected on 94 of 334 (28%) of his jabs, and combined that with a 46% connect rate on his power shots (57 of 124). Rabchenko landed a paltry 14 of 126 (11%) of his jabs, and 47 of 131 (36%) power shots, never really forcing the fight at all.

Harrison clipped Rabchenko early in the ninth round with a right hand, which sent Rabchenko stumbling, and it appeared his knee touched the canvas. But no knockdown was called there, so Harrison kept throwing, hitting Rabchenko again and forcing him to take a knee. Rabchenko did get up, but referee Arthur Mercante stopped the fight when he judged that Rabchenko could not continue.