Artur Beterbiev stamps his mark on the light heavyweight division

By Ivan Ivanov - 04/05/2015 - Comments

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.

Gabriel Campillo had won his last three fights and he was not the softest of opposition even if his best days were behind him. Artur hurt him with the first right hand he threw in the first round and from then on Campillo was on borrowed time. Beterbiev did not rush hastily to finish him, he needed the rounds of experience anyway (a total of 19 so far) and he boxed calmly but seemed to hurt the Spaniard with every shot and knocked him down shortly. The Russian showed great offensive variety for the remainder of the fight and mixed in some hurtful body shots along with the carnage upstairs. He still took liberties with the right hand on occasion when he threw big unprepared hooks that pulled him out of balance when he missed. He got away with it against the semi-sedated veteran who had to worry about shaking the effect of the previous shots. He knows better than doing that against the top echelon as there will be a price tag to such frivolities.

Artur Beterbiev was installed as number 2 in the IBF hierarchy and he is perhaps the most fearsome contender today. Kovalev and GGG are true terminators as well but in Beterbiev I see an original “seek and destroy” artist and if it wasn’t for Oleksandr Usyk in the cruiser weight division who I think could outpoint Beterbiev, I’d have to look in the heavyweight division to find his match. Beterbiev has boxed in the cruiser weight division as an amateur and was quite useful there.

The shrewd WBC organization has given Sergey Kovalev meritorious mandatory status and Adonis Stevenson will have to fight him or vacate the title. It should not be long before Beterbiev forces his way into the title mix and the imminent showdown with Sergey Kovalev could become one of the greatest fights out there. It would be a rematch of sorts; Beterbiev beat Kovalev twice as an amateur and bumped him out of the Russian national team. Words have been exchanged on that topic between them and Kovalev pointed out that the second amateur bout was very close but he would surely win as a pro. Adonis Stevenson is not on par skill wise with the Russians but he should fight them both before they fight each other to clear things up for the final showdown.

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