20.11.06 – By Kirk Allen: Ukrainian heavyweight Alexander Dimitrenko (24-0, 14 KO’s) easily defeated Billy Zumbrun 20-8-1, 11 KO’s), winning by unanimoous 12-round decision on Saturday night in Desseldorf, Germany. For the giant 6’7″ 249 lb. Dimitrenko, the outcome was never in doubt, as he dominated Zumbrun, throughout the 12-round bout. Using a mixture of quick left jabs, straight right hands, and right uppercuts, Dimitrenko controlled the pace of the bout, giving the shorter, 6-foot Zumbrun few chances to land. The final judges’ scores were 120-105, 119-107, 120-106, all for Dimitrenko.
In the 1st round, Dimitrenko immediately landed a series of left jabs on the shorter Zumbrun, each one snapping his head back. Zumbrun charged in on Dimitrenko and threw a short flurry, all of which missed, due to Dimitrenko leaning back. However, Dimitrenko landed a big right uppercut, that sent Zumbrun in full retreat. Dimitrenko quickly foloowed after him and landed to right hooks that landed to the side of Zumbrun’s head, followed by three quick body shots that caused Zumbrun to go down. He made it up and clinched his way out of the round, to prevent Dimitrenko from finishing the fight.
In the remaining rounds, Dimitrenko pouned away at Zumbrun, tagging him continously with his jab and left hook. Such as it was, Zumbrun rarely had any opportunities to land anything in return, largely due to Dimitrenko’s huge size and his excellent defense. In the later rounds, Zumbrun looked thoroughly discouraged, like he didn’t know how to reach Dimitrenko. He did, however, try to swarm Dimitrenko, yet each time he tried, Zumbrun would get hit with either a short right hand or a big right uppercut on his way in. After getting hit with quite a few of these punches, Zumbrun dramatically lessened his attacks, to the point where he was merely a non-factor.
In the 12th round, Dimitrenko opened a cut over Zumbrun’s right eye, after hitting him with a snapping left jab. Zumbrun briefly tried to press the attack, but was again driven back by Dimitrenko’s jabs and right uppercut.
At first glance, Dimitrenko looks much like his fellow countryman, Wladimir Klitschko, in terms of fighting style. Like Klitschko, Dimitrenko has a fast, powerful jab, which he uses to keep his opponents on the outside. Also, Dimitrenko has an excellent left hook, and laser-like straight right hand, again, much like Wladmir’s. He moves from side to side like Wladimir, often on his toes. However, Dimitrenko lacks the crushing two-fisted power that Wladmir has in his possession, which means it takes him longer to take out his opponents.
Dimitrenko makes up for it, however, with a jab that he uses constantly. He also has a right uppercut, a very powerful punch, which he throws whenever a shorter opponent, like Zumbrun, tries to crowd him. Overall, I’d rate Dimitrenko’s work pace as better than Wladimir Klitschko, including his use of the jab. Whereas Wladmir seemed reluctant to throw his jab and often needs to be told by his trainer, Dimitrenko throws it often, with as much power as Wladmir.
Dimitrenko’s right uppercut, a punch that Wladimir doesn’t use, is what sets him apart from Wladimir. With that punch, Dimitrenko is difficult to smother on the inside, something shorter fighters often try to do with Wladimir. Besides that, Dimitrenko seems to fight very well on the inside, often ripping fast combinations that are thrown with a lot of power.
It won’t be long before Dimitrenko challenges for a heavyweight title, and I can’t see anyone beating him, except for, perhaps, Wladimir, if he can catch Dimitrenko with a big shot early on. However, with Dimitrenko’s awesome skills, which are almost identical to Wladimir’s, I would have a hard time finding anyone that can beat this guy. Give him a couple of more fights and I see him dominating the heavyweight division.