The Russian invasion of the cruiserweight division

07/28/202004/22/2015 Ivan Ivanov

They have arrived with a bang. A knock out bang that is resonating through the cruiser weight division so loudly … continue

Olympic champion Oleksandr Usyk defeats Andrey Knyazev via TKO 8

04/19/201504/19/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Oleksandr Usyk (7-0, KO 7) of the Ukraine outworked his Russian opponent Andrey Knyazev (11-2) in the main event of a K2 promotions show in the Sports Palace in Kiev, Ukraine under the watchful eye of the city mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Usyk won the WBO Inter-Continental cruiser weight title and his 3rd place in the WBO rankings suggests a showdown with cruiser weight king Marco Huck (Muamer Hukić) in the near future. Tony Bellew and Krzytof Glowacki occupy the top two spots but getting past them should be a formality for Usyk.

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Pacquiao vs Mayweather – an integral assault vs. a defensive equilibrium

04/15/2015 Ivan Ivanov

The smart money is on Money according to the odds, the smart Manny will be all over Money as well scanning him for glitches. This fight is expected to set new financial records and is presumed to be the richest boxing fight in history. Seat prices vary from $1500 to $10000, not exactly a people’s fight, and pay per view is 89.95 – HD 99.95. Whatever golden standards it sets, the suspense has created unrealistic expectations among casual and professional fans (analysts, writers and commentators) that make several educated guesses a day on top of their official predictions. The most important prediction – that of the bookmakers – places Mayweather as a firm betting favorite and odds makers take nervous care in preparing their forecast as they are guaranteed to be taken up on it. Rugs and riches aside, from pure boxing/sporting point of view this fight would do well to be considered among the top 50 of all time once the initial excitement wears off.

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Amir Khan’s boxing legacy – a wild-goose chase or a work in progress

04/14/201504/14/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Khan expects to win the Mayweather lottery or to get the congressional consolation prize, he believes he is entitled to fight the winner (or loser) of the May 2 mega fight. If it ends in a draw or develops into a sequel, he may watch both veterans retire before he gets his turn in the money shower. Khan recently neglected a lucrative offer to fight Kell Brook which fueled criticism and raised additional doubts. He will need a stay busy fight even if he acts like a boxing prima donna who can afford to get up from bed only for multi million contracts. Biding your time with a minimum threat opponent and saving face at the same time may not be so simple especially when 3 glaringly unavenged losses are pending further action.

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A cruiserweight monster in the making – Dmitry Kudryashov

04/13/201504/12/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Dmitry Kudryashov, 17-0 (KO 17), a name widely unfamiliar to the boxing public, has emerged as a rising force and a sure-fire championship prospect. His latest fight took place on April 10 in Moscow on the Lebedev – Kalenga undercard when he defended his WBA Int’l cruiser weight title against seasoned Puerto Rican contender Francisco Palacios. Palacios went the distance twice with former WBC World champ Wlodarsczyk and was supposed to challenge the basically untested Russian who had other plans. Kudryashov boxed stylishly behind a tight high guard scanning for openings before he threw a double left hook, to the ribs and to the temple and put Palacios out cold. As soon as the referee stopped counting he called for first aid and the fallen warrior needed a minute or two before he woke up and a couple more before he was able to get up and sit on his chair. It was a scary ending which replaced the usual celebration of the winner with relief at the recovery of the opponent. The fight lasted 52 seconds.

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The 49-0 taboo in boxing

04/09/2015 Ivan Ivanov

The “zero syndrome” in boxing has gained the upper hand and has obscured the valuable qualities of boxers focusing on a bogus credential like an unbeaten record. The “Zero” has become the factor in choosing opponents and venues; it has tainted verdicts and precipitated decisions that defy common sense. The obsession with an unbeaten resume has been observed to sidetrack careers and alter legacies of pawns and kings in boxing. Unblemished records are just an illusion in most cases, a managerial feat – for example both Marciano and Floyd Mayweather had multiple losses as amateur boxers. Amateurs have to fight all comers and even Franky Carbo and “The Combination” back in the day or any of the present promotional wizards, famous and mysterious alike, could not spare an Olympic/amateur prodigy from meeting the odd awkward stylistic nightmare. Kovalev and GGG have lost their share of amateur bouts too and one of them even happened to be on the wrong end of a vicious one-punch KO once in the amateur light heavyweight division.

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Swimming vs. road work/running for boxers – a better option or a therapeutic option?

04/08/201504/07/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Swimming is a great aerobic enhancer and surpasses the benefits of running as far as endurance and lung capacity are concerned. It opens up the alveoli and increases the feel good factor. It brings up the overall fitness level and tones the whole body of a boxer relaxing every muscle as well during warm down in the water. Swimming is a low impact activity and injury in the pool is extremely rare (slipping in the shower is another story). The old school of thought used to believe swimming developed the wrong back and shoulder muscles and affected the range of motion for boxers. The same school preached that free weights were poison for the boxing body.

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Artur Beterbiev stamps his mark on the light heavyweight division

04/05/201504/05/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Artur Beterbiev scored his 8th KO in as many fights last night when he calmly brutalized former champion Gabriel Campillo knocking him out in a spectacular fashion in round 4. A short right hand by Beterbiev sprawled Campillo against the ropes and the Russian swiped a left hook through the jaw of his opponent who was probably out even before the last shot landed. Beterbiev could probably have made it a three punch combo but he showed a flair for the dramatic and some compassion. In what could be described as a theatrical gesture he did not even pause to check the effect of the combo and threw the last shot as if he was just passing by in a hurry. When the left hook landed, he turned in the same motion and walked away before Campillo hit the floor. No count was necessary and the terrified Campillo team jumped into the ring followed by the ringside physician.

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Artur Beterbiev steps up against Gabriel Campillo on April 4

03/17/201503/17/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Beterbiev is scheduled to fight Campillo at the Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec, Canada on the undercard of Adonis Stevenson vs Sakio Bika. Gabriel Campillo is a seasoned campaigner managed by ex-champ Sergio Martinez and he brings a certain type of pro experience and routine. He may not be a high-risk opponent as he has been stopped more than once – by Sergey Kovalev in Sergey’s 20th pro bout, by Andjei Fonfara in Andjei’s 25th outing and by Uzelkov. Beterbiev has fought 7 times and has boxed a total of 15 rounds while Campillo has amassed 211 paid rounds.

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Sergey Kovalev TKO 8 Jean Pascal – Round by Round Review

03/15/2015 Ivan Ivanov

Kovalev defended his WBO, WBA Super and IBF light heavyweight titles with a substandard performance vs. a durable but technically and tactically bridled strongman. Both competitors were one-dimensional in their own way and showed little capacity or tendency to adapt or at least modify their efforts according to the flow of battle. Pascal had not been stopped or knocked down as a pro and was expected give the “Krusher” a run for his money.

Round 1: Kovalev moved forward in a straight line trying to walk down Jean Pascal to the ropes or to get him to fight. Pascal would not take the fight and bounced around ducking low whenever he felt threatened. Kovalev did not advance indiscriminately, his basic skills are rock-steady and he is very particular in observing range. He does not care too much about the opponent’s range; he is preoccupied with his own comfort zone as he is tall and has long arms. If he is in range, the opponent often isn’t and when the opponent tries to get close, Kovalev’s best defense is his frontal punch power. Pascal was met by rapid fire upstairs and downstairs whenever he tried to get into position. His rally in the end of the round was more of distress call than a serious attack.

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