(April 16, 2022) Eimantas Stanionis moved a step closer to establishing himself as one of the sport’s best welterweights with an action-filled split decision win against the rugged Radzhab Butaev, lifting his WBA title in the main event of a special edition of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING that preceded the four-fight Spence vs. Ugas SHOWTIME PPV® from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In a bout fought at close range, Stanionis landed the crisper, more eye-catching shots, repeatedly rocking the sturdy Butaev with hard rights and a reliable jab in the most complete performance of his career. He won by judges’ scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 113-114, improving to 14-0 with 9 knockouts, while Butaev, who had a point deducted in the 11th for holding and hitting, suffered the first defeat of his career, dropping to 14-1 with 11 knockouts. “I still can’t believe it,” Stanionis said afterward. “It was a dream come true to hear ‘and the new.’ When I was a kid, I visualized what this would loo