Włodarczyk Defends His Title, Fonfara Knocks Out Miller

Krzysztof Włodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KO) and Giacobbe Fragomeni (31-4-2, 12 KO) knew each other extremely well. They had spent 20 rounds in the ring during their two previous bouts. Ahead of their third encounter at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, it was clear that the 12-years-younger Pole was the favorite.

In the opening minutes, “Diablo” controlled the distance with his jab. Standing wide-legged, he avoided the Italian’s occasional attacks and waited for an opportunity to counter. In the second round, Fragomeni moved forward more boldly, but the champion absorbed his punches behind a tight guard.

After a brief period of slower action, Włodarczyk stepped up the pace. He landed himself while sensibly varying the power of his punches. Toward the end of the fourth round, he unleashed his most dangerous left hook. In close quarters, with very little room, he landed a short, compact shot. Fragomeni went down, and his left eye was also badly damaged. He rose at the count of eight, clearly dazed. The bell saved him from further punishment.

After the break, the Italian tried to respond with an offensive assault. However, he was unable to turn the fight around. Faster, more accurate, and physically stronger, Włodarczyk dominated even when punching while moving backward. Toward the end of the sixth round, he accelerated again and landed a right uppercut. Fragomeni made it to the bell but did not come out for the seventh round. “Diablo” defended his WBC world cruiserweight title for the sixth time.

Andrzej Fonfara (25-2, 15 KO) did not allow the pressure of fighting in front of his hometown crowd to affect his boxing. He comfortably defeated Samuel Miller (26-8, 23 KO). “The Polish Prince” pressed forward from the outset, working with his feet and jab. He often tried to follow that punch with a powerful right cross.

Miller had no intention of backing down either. Things heated up quickly in Chicago. Toward the end of the first round, Fonfara landed a straight right, followed by a left hook to the body. His opponent hit the canvas, but the bell rang moments later.

The break did not change the situation. At the start of the second round, Fonfara attacked explosively and landed an exceptionally clean left hook. Miller was unable to continue. The Pole won by spectacular knockout.

“In the first round, I landed with my right hand. In the corner, I heard them tell me to use my left now. So that’s what I did. I want to fight for the world championship in Chicago and win the title for the fans here,” said Fonfara, who at the time was ranked first in the IBF light heavyweight division.

Source: bokser.org