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.
Kudryashov’s previous fight was regarded as an even tougher test. He fought Juan Carlos Gomez, a former Cuban amateur standout who held the WBC cruiser weight title for several years before he moved up to heavyweight where he won the WBC Int’l title form Oliver McCall and qualified to challenge Vitali Klitschko. Klitschko needed 9 rounds to get rid of Gomez. Gomez came back down to cruiser weight a couple of years ago and won the WBA Int’l cruiser weight title which he conceded to Dimitry Kudryashov last November.
Kudryashov landed a succession of heavy right hands to the body and then a smooth left hook- right cross combo to the head that leveled Gomez for the full count and he needed help to get up and steady himself. Time was 0:22 of the first round.
Kudryashov’s chin is an unknown quantity but he exhibits good command of the basics, tight defense and proper technique. What makes him special is the effect of his shots which are of textbook quality. His hand position, body movement and feet position are the same whether he feints or throws a power punch, there are no telegraphs, facial expressions or feet stomping signaling his bombs. He has yet to assert his quality against the top drawer in a longer bout but he is climbing up the ladder and is guaranteed to make a splash in the cruiser weight pool. He could easily sink the top dogs before he takes them to the deep end. There are hopes that he could move up to heavyweight someday, he has the punch if not the size, but he would do well to clean up the cruiser weight division first and it shouldn’t take him long. After the Klitschko era the heavyweight gates will be wide open.
