12.03.07 – by Pavel Yakovlev at ringside: Heavyweight contender Sultan Ibragimov stopped rugged Javier Mora at Madison Square Garden with a stunning display of punching power, hand speed and aggression. The fight lasted only 46 seconds. Mora, 246 ¾ lbs., entered this bout with a record of 21-3-1, including 17 knockouts. The native of La Chona, Mexico, is known for his durability, as he had never before suffered an inside the distance loss and had withstood the best blows of hard punching contender Kirk Johnson..
The explosive, lightning quick Ibragimov, 221 lbs., quickly established that Mora’s durability would be of no avail on this night. After absorbing two right hands from the onrushing Mexican, Ibragimov smashed Mora to the canvas with four successive uppercuts to the jaw. Mora arose from the knockdown, but he seemed dazed and the end was near.
Ibragimov then demonstrated incredible aggression and killer instinct as he renewed his assault on Mora. 26 consecutive, unanswered punches were unleashed by Ibragimov as Mora tried to survive by using bobbing and weaving maneuvers while on the ropes. Sultan’s blows were fast and powerful, delivered from both hands to Mora’s head and midsection. Within seconds Mora’s entire body was as limp as spaghetti and the referee Michael Ortega wisely waived the match off.
As he headed back to his corner, Ibragimov pumped his fist in a fierce, warlike salute. Noteworthy is that Ibragimov is a native of Dagestan, which is in the Caucasus mountains of southern Russia, a region with a centuries old reputation for producing indomitable fighters in war and sports. Dagestani athletes ranked among the Soviet Union’s best in combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, and judo. Based on Ibragimov’s performance tonight, it is probable that Dagestanis will soon include a professional world heavyweight champion among their ranks.
Ibragimov is now 20-0-1 with 17 knockouts. To this writer, Ibragimov looked very much like a young Jerry Quarry, the fast, hard-hitting heavyweight contender from the ‘60s and ‘70s who was renown for the flashy finishing power he showed in winning many high profile bouts.
In several months Ibragimov will back at Madison Square Garden to challenge New York City native Shannon Briggs for the WBO heavyweight championship. No doubt tonight’s performance by Ibragimov has whetted the appetite of Gotham area fight fans to see this bout. Both Briggs and Ibragimov are fast fisted, power punching heavyweights who do their best work while on the offensive in the early rounds of a match. Assuming neither fighter backs down when they meet, we may see a heavyweight version of Hagler-Hearns or Zale-Graziano.