Pawel Pawlak successfully defended his middleweight championship by defeating Mamed Khalidov via TKO in the final second of the fourth round. The dramatic finish marked Pawlak's fourth title defense of his championship reign. The victory came at the very last moment of the scheduled round, adding to the dramatic nature of the outcome. Khalidov, a veteran fighter, was unable to survive the late onslaught from the defending champion. The fight demonstrated Pawlak's ability to finish opponents even in championship rounds.
Pawel Pawlak secured a dramatic finish to retain his middleweight championship, stopping Mamed Khalidov via TKO in the final second of the fourth round on April 19, 2026.
The Polish champion, fighting out of Octopus Lodz, improved his professional record to 12-3-0 with the victory. The 37-year-old Pawlak, who stands six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, was making his fourth successful defense of the middleweight title. The finish underlined his capacity to produce decisive results deep into championship bouts, even when the round appeared set to expire without incident.
Khalidov, a long-established veteran of the middleweight division, could not withstand the late pressure from the champion and was stopped in one of the more dramatic finishes seen in recent title action.
Why it matters
- Pawlak's fourth consecutive title defense cements his standing as one of the most durable champions in the division
- A last-second TKO in round four signals finishing ability that defies both the scorecards and the clock
- Khalidov's defeat raises questions about his future at the top level of the middleweight division
- Pawlak's willingness to push for stoppages late in rounds sets a competitive benchmark for future challengers
