Ra’eese Aleem TKO10 Marcus Bates... In the Showtime co-feature from Connecticut, a WBA 122-pound eliminator, Ra’eese Aleem (17-0, 11 KOs) scored a technical knockout over late replacement Marcus Bates (11-2-1, 8 KOs). This was a [hastily arranged] rematch of a 2018 bout in which Aleem won by unanimous decision. Aleem was originally scheduled to face Tramaine Williams before Williams was moved into the main event due to Stephen Fulton’s positive coronavirus test.

 

The 26 year-old Bates suffered an injured right wrist and battled through the pain for several rounds.Of his opponent's injury, Aleem said, “I didn’t know his hand was hurt, I thought he was just shaking it just to try to get me to look at it and distract me. I didn’t worry about it.”

 

Prior to the start of the tenth round, Bates’ corner and referee Gary Rosato warned the fighter that the bout was in danger of being stopped. At 2:18 of round ten, Bates grimaced in pain and turned his back on the action, causing the fight to be stopped. Aleem dominated from the opening bell, out-landing Bates 193-86 in total punches, including 71 landed body shots.

 

With the win, Aleem sets himself up for an opportunity for a 122-pound title fight vs. WBA/IBF champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev or WBA regular champion Brandon Figueroa. . “I would love to fight either the winner of the main event or any current world champion – Akhmadaliev has two of the belts,” said the Las Vegas-based Aleem who was born and raised in Muskegon, Mich. “Brandon Figueroa, Rey Vargas, or the winner of this one. It doesn’t really matter who but I want the strap.