Czerkaszyn scores a quick knockout, Włodarczyk wins on points in Suwałki
In the main event of the Knockout Boxing Night show in Suwałki, Fiodor Czerkaszyn (18-0, 12 KO), a Ukrainian who also holds Polish citizenship, dealt with Damian Ezequiel Bonelli (24-9, 20 KO) without major problems.
For Bonelli, it was his third visit to Poland and his third defeat. For the second time, he lost inside the distance. This time, everything was over in the first round. Czerkaszyn first impressively leaned back and used his upper-body movement before landing a clean left hook on the Argentine. Bonelli hit the canvas. He managed to get up, but after the referee’s count he did not last long. Czerkaszyn trapped him against the ropes, and the referee rightly stopped the bout. Fiodor now needs considerably more serious challenges. It is high time for him to leave Poland.
He’s back! Krzysztof Włodarczyk (59-4-1, 39 KO) returned between the ropes after legal problems and a stay at a health resort. At the show in Suwałki, he defeated Vadym Novopashyn (6-3, 2 KO). However, the former world champion’s performance did not bring any major changes to his boxing. There was passivity and waiting in place, although from time to time Włodarczyk added some harder punches.
After many years of working with Fiodor Łapin, a change took place. Andrzej Liczik became “Diablo’s” new trainer. This is a new experience for Włodarczyk. As he recently said in interviews with the media, he is interested in the partnership. Liczik wants the boxer, who is not yet 40, to initiate exchanges more often and be the one to signal the attack instead of waiting for his opponent to make a move. For years, however, it has been difficult to get Włodarczyk to set the pace. The former world champion is clearly more comfortable on the defensive.
The first round was quiet. There was more chess than boxing. Włodarczyk tried to work behind his jab and looked for solutions from behind a high guard. He still lacked faster footwork and a greater willingness to box effectively. Novopashyn quickly realized that the Pole’s punches did not bother him much. In the second round, he fired off two punches, to which “Diablo” responded with a counter left jab. The Ukrainian also tried a left hook and saw an opportunity to attack with his right hand.
In the second and third rounds, Novopashyn became increasingly bold. Włodarczyk answered at mid-range and tried to remain close to his opponent. The former cruiserweight champion added more uppercuts and hooks to his arsenal, occasionally targeting the body as well. The Ukrainian shortened the distance particularly at the start of the rounds and approached Włodarczyk without fear. With time, however, he lacked the energy and the tools to surprise the Pole.
Włodarczyk began varying his attacks. He lowered his stance and landed uppercuts between Novopashyn’s gloves. In the final minute of the fifth round, they exchanged punches. The Ukrainian lulled his opponent into a false sense of security and surprised him with several right hooks. “Diablo” was not overly troubled. Against the ropes, he continued looking for uppercuts, and after one of them Novopashyn’s legs visibly buckled.
“Slip, left hook, right hook!” Liczik called out in the sixth round. Włodarczyk still lacked follow-up punches. Novopashyn tried to answer with hooks and remained firmly planted. He presumably wanted to show that the punches of a fighter who had previously defeated, among others, Greene, Chakhkiev and Cunningham did not impress him. The Pole maintained his focus to the end. He landed uppercuts while also taking care of his defense.
Włodarczyk won on points after eight rounds. The judges scored the fight 79-73, 80-72 and 79-73 in his favor. Was it surprising? No. Is he a different boxer? Also no. The fight with the Ukrainian showed that “Diablo” still lacks sufficient sharpness, rarely follows up his attacks and gives up the initiative too often. He has plenty of work ahead of him. The rust is showing.
Maksym Myszczenko (7-3, 3 KO) started the fight actively. He landed punches and, after a clean right uppercut, could have caused an upset. Moments later, however, Marek Matyja (20-2-2, 9 KO) brutally countered the Ukrainian and took away his hopes of victory. Myszczenko, who had suffered two painful defeats in the professional ring, wanted to make a good impression in the Podlaskie region. From the outset, he tried to set the pace and unsettle Matyja.
Matyja skillfully varied the rhythm of his punches. He did not move away from his opponent, instead trying to wear him down. In the second round, Myszczenko landed several punches, clearly announcing his presence with one of them—a powerful right uppercut. The Ukrainian opened himself up against the KnockOut fighter, however. A few seconds later, Matyja fired a powerful right hook over his opponent’s lowered left hand and sent him to the canvas. Myszczenko got up but did not respond to the referee’s instructions. The official decided to stop the fight.
Michael Szubow (16-10-1, 9 KO) had never previously lost a professional fight inside the distance. That streak ended in Suwałki. The Russian, who holds a German passport, had to concede defeat to Kamil Bednarek (8-0, 5 KO), and was stopped for the first time as well.
Szubow boxed in Poland 14 years ago. At the Spodek arena in Katowice, he faced Damian Jonak. In the main event of that show, Krzysztof Włodarczyk met Steve Cunningham for the second time. For years, the Russian impressed with his ability to absorb punches, but in Suwałki it was clear that this asset was no longer as reliable. Bednarek consistently attacked the body, boxing calmly and sensibly on the one hand, while accelerating at mid-range on the other.
Szubow also looked for his chances at close range. After mistakes and inaccurate punches, however, he opened himself up to Piotr Wilczewski’s charge. The Russian hit the canvas twice. Finally, in the third round, his corner stopped the fight.
Przemysław Zyśk (16-0, 5 KO) is one of the most ambitious Polish fighters. He combines boxing with a professional job in his daily life. In Suwałki, the fighter from Ostrołęka added another victory to his record. After eight rounds, he defeated Marcos Jesus Cornejo (19-6, 18 KO) on points.
Zyśk appeared in the opening bout of the show because Damian Knyba (1-0, 1 KO), who was originally scheduled to open the card, was moved to a later time. His fight took place immediately after the main event. For Cornejo, it was his third trip to Poland. In April 2018, he lost to Damian Jonak in Częstochowa. Several months later, he could not find a way past Kamil Gardzielik. He also lacked sufficient tools against Zyśk and lost every round.
The Pole extended his combinations, starting with the jab and finishing with uppercuts or right hooks. The Argentine spat out his mouthpiece several times. The fans and commentators then called for a warning from the referee. Zyśk tried to box with increasing accuracy and intensity, but could not put his opponent on the canvas. That was a slight negative, as Cornejo clearly lost his balance several times.
The corner reminded Zyśk to stay focused and start his attacks with jabs. In the final round, the Argentine primarily tried to run down the clock. He was passive and spat out his mouthpiece again. All the judges awarded the victory to Przemysław Zyśk. The fighter from Ostrołęka remains undefeated, but it is time for bigger challenges.
source: bokser.org
