The NBCSN Fight Night card on August 9th live from Sands Casino Hotel in Bethlehem, PA is headlined by Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov (17-0-1, 11 KOs) against Derric “El León” Rossy (29-8, 14 KOs). We have same updates on Glazkov vs. Rossy, as well as notes on the full undercard for the event.
In the middle bout, Robert “The Butcher” Berridge (24-1-1, 20 KO’s) squares off against Vasliy Lepikhin (15-0, 8 KO’s) in 12 rounds for the PABA & WBO Oriental Light Heavyweight Titles. Starting off the live telecast on NBCSN Fight Night are heavyweights Joseph Parker (9-0, 8 KO’s) and Keith Thompson (7-2, 4 KO’s) in a six-rounder.
Glazkov, 29, is an Olympic Bronze medalist but, according to Jackson’s assistant trainer, Derik Santos, before training with Jackson, Glazkov’s game was very one-dimensional, “One of the things we saw from a lot of his past fights is he throws a lot of good ones. His jab is good but everything was in ones.” Jackson decided he wanted Glazkov to add more combinations. Santos added, “He is very fast. He’s agile. He rolls well. So we decided to work with combinations. That’s how you’re going to beat people. You are going to out-box them. You are going to beat them. You are going to outsmart them. You gotta stick that good jab out there.”
Jackson also pushed Glazkov more than his previous trainers and Santos believes Czar has stepped up in response to the challenge, “We have pushed him hard since he got here. He’s liked it. I am not sure that he was pushed that hard before. I am not sure that the technical aspect was broken down for him. One thing that John [David Jackson] does really well, he breaks things down and explains to the fighter why they are doing it.” The new approach as paid off according to Santos, who said, “In our first sparring session, in the beginning he was throwing ones and twos and threes, but then after he started getting the combinations we have been working on and his sparring partner called it short. We are working on him rising up with that right hand.”
Main Events’ CEO Kathy Duva added, “I’ve seen what John David Jackson accomplished with Sergey Kovalev. Knowing how good Glazkov was before he started working with John, I can’t wait to see what he looks like now. This is an important fight to see where Czar is in his training and development. Bigger things are on the horizon for him when he’s ready.”
Meanwhile, Rossy is confident of victory and pulling off the upset.
The 34-year old former Defensive End at Boston College knows that a win over Glazkov will catapult him right back into rankings and will put him in line for a Heavyweight championship.
“Glazkov is a very sound fighter. What he does, he does well. That’s what you get when you are fighting the top guys,” said Rossy.
“This fight is big for both of us. It could mean a title fight. Two well qualified fighters are fighting each other. Who ever wins this should be in talks for a world title.”
This will be the 2nd fight that Rossy has been able to concentrate fully on boxing as he was an Iron worker. He lifted heavy beams to help with construction on big buildings.
“I have a dream to be champion. It needs to be financed. I did enough work where I saved up to be a full-time boxer. That 100 % focus showed up in the Hanks fight and will show again on Saturday. I am hoping my fans that are in attendance will make a loud ruckus. Everyone tune in because it will be a great fight,” finished Rossy.
Said Rossy’s longtime promoter Sal Musumeci of Final Forum Promotions, “This is a crossroads fight for Derric. If he wins this, he will be in line to get into contention to bring the Heavyweight title back to the United States. I commend Glazkov for taking this great risk against a live and true Heavyweight contender like Rossy.
The live audience will see a diverse undercard filled with local prospects.
The final fight before the live telecast begins on NBCSN is six rounds of welterweight action featuring local sensation Arturo Trujillo (5-0, 3 KO’s) of Easton, PA against an undetermined fighter. Trujillo, 22, is a southpaw. He has knocked out his last two opponents (Apr. 24, 2014 – Kevin Womack Jr. in the third round and Nov. 16, 2013 – Pablo Sanchez in the first round).
In an all-local showdown of light welterweights, Ismael Serrano (1-1), 27, of Bethlehem, PA will take on Jonathan Williams (0-2), 21, of Allentown, PA in four rounds. Serrano is coming off his first career loss against the always-dangerous Wellington Romero Jan. 24, 2014 at Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ. Williams is still looking for his first professional win since making his pro debut on Nov. 16, 2013 against Nathaniel Rivas at Sands.
Two featherweights will face off in four rounds, both of whom are still looking for their first professional victory. Frankie Garriga (0-1-2), 26, of Bronx, NY will take on Puerto Rican native Luis Acevedo (0-0-1), 22, (now residing in Bethlehem, PA). Garriga made his professional debut with a points draw on June 6, 2011 in four rounds against Josh Crespo in Hartford, CT. Acevedo also made his professional debut with a draw against Josh Crespo, at Sands on March 15, 2014 on the Glazkov-Adamek Fight Night undercard.
Undefeated heavyweight, Tyrell Wright (5-0, 4 KO’s), of Jersey City, NJ will meet up with Randy Easton (2-2-1, 2 KO’s) of Sansbury, PA for four rounds. Wright has knocked out four straight opponents (Apr. 4, 2014 – Dan Bolden in the fourth round; Sept. 13, 2013 – Alex Rozman in the first round; Jul. 27, 2013 – Eric George in the third round and Jun. 14, 2013 – Moses Marshall in the second round). Easton is coming off two straight victories, both knockouts (Nov. 30, 2013 – William Monroe in the first round and Dec. 18, 2013 – Dante Selby in the first round).
Starting off the event will be undefeated light heavyweight, Khalib Whitmore (5-0, 4 KO’s), 29 from Philadelphia, PA against Lamont Capers (4-4) of Brooklyn, NY in four rounds. Whitmore has knocked out the last four victims who have dared to step into the ring with him (Aug. 23, 2013 – Richard McCombs in the first round; Nov. 23, 2013 – Martez Williamson in the second round; Nov. 30, 2013 – Mark Baltimore in the first round; and Jan. 25, 2014 – Antonio Liles in the second round).
Whitmore was scheduled to fight on the June 21st card at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, PA and the April 4th fight at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA but both times matchmakers Jolene Mizzone and J Russell Peltz were unable to find an opponent willing to take on the dangerous Whitmore. Capers lost his most recent bout to Travis Reeves via unanimous decision in six rounds on Jun. 28, 2014 in Baltimore, MD which snapped a three-fight winning streak (Mar. 8, 2014 – Brian Donahue unanimous decision in four rounds; May 9, 2014 – Earl Platt unanimous decision in four rounds and May 17, 2014 – Dave Valykeo majority decision in four rounds).
