It was a fantastic show at the packed Acco International Exhibition Center in Kiev as the Ukraine Otamans powered past British Lionhearts at home to move provisionally up to third in Group B. Olympic Champions Vasyl Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk entertained the crowds with two sumptuous displays as Olexandr Stretskyy and Oleksandr Gvozdyk also recorded wins to make it a comprehensive victory on the night.
Opening up proceedings was diminutive Ukrainian Ivan Ilnytskyy against exciting British talent Sean McGoldrick. It was the Lionhearts’ 21-year-old who began on the front foot, using his jab well to apply the pressure on Ilnytskyy in the Bantamweight (50-54kg) contest. With his slight height and reach advantage, the accomplished McGoldrick was able to dominate and although he let his guard down in the latter stages and was caught a couple of times, he went on to record a split decision win.
Double Olympic Champion and boxing superstar Lomachenko then made his big entrance to the WSB ring. The Lightweight (57-61kg) southpaw faced 24-year-old Samuel Maxwell and took his time to get a into his rhythm but it was worth waiting for as he came alive in the fourth, unloading some punishing body shots, with a great hook followed by a straight left seeing Maxwell having to take a standing eight count in that round. Lomachenko from then on was on a different level, showing his class on his way to a thunderous victory. Maxwell should take heart however from the performance, standing tall against the best pound for pound boxer in Olympic boxing.
It began tentatively between 26-year-old Ukrainian southpaw Stretskyy and flamboyant Scot Aston Brown. These two solid Middleweights (68-73kg) were evenly matched, both looking to use the jab before throwing the one-two combinations. Stretskyy though enjoyed more success and showed more endeavour, landing cleaner punches throughout, his compact style working well. 21-year-old Brown did show flashes of what he can do but was inconsistent and in the end it was a deserved victory for the home boxer.
Unbeaten Gvozdyk was sublime in the first round against the Lionhearts’ experienced Swede Babacar Kamara of their Light Heavyweight (80-85kg) bout, with the classy 25-year-old Ukrainian sending his opponent crashing to the canvas with a huge left hook. After that, the savvy Kamara worked hard to get himself back into the contest, using his height to repeatedly thwart the attacks of the home boxer. Gvozdyk re-assessed to come up with the goods that ensured the overall victory for his team.
Usyk entertained the crowd with his sensational boxing and true showmanship in the night’s final contest. Fast and powerful, the crowd were chanting the Ukrainian’s name midway through the third following a flurry of thunderous punches that rocked the Lionhearts’ undefeated Tongan Uaine Fa. Grimacing and playing to the fans, Usyk was connecting with some hard shots but the tall Tongan was still managing to land some punches of his own to ensure it was an entertaining contest. These two Heavyweight (91+kg) colossi put on one hell of a battle but 25-year-old southpaw Usyk was just too good, proving he is one of the very best at this level with a classy victory.
Great Britain next host the USA Knockouts on Thursday 17 January at the legendary York Hall whilst Ukraine travel to Almaty to face Astana Arlans Kazakhstan the day after.
In other WSB action…
Bottom of Group A table showdown saw Algeria Desert Hawks and Argentina Condors claim two points each after the match was drawn following two victories apiece and the Lightweight (57-61kg) bout being ruled a technical draw following an accidental injury in the first round.
The speed and agility of 21-year-old Argentinean Fernando Martinez told in the night’s opening contest at Bantamweight (50-54kg) as the slick orthodox Condors fighter outmanoeuvred Samir Brahimi. Classy operator Martinez moved inside well, constantly applying the pressure on the Algerian southpaw. Brahimi tried to mix it up but could not contain the barrage of precise hooks and uppercuts he was being subjected to. Martinez was constantly on the front foot and confidently claimed the win that give his team the early advantage in the tie.
Two-time Olympian Abdelkader Chadi looked high on confidence in the early exchanges of his fight against Argentina’s German Benitez in the Lightweight contest, however following an accidental injury, the fight ended prematurely and the bout was declared a technical draw.
Algeria’s 20-year-old Ilyas Abbadi was next in the ring to face crisp counter-puncher Juan Velasco at Middleweight (68-73kg). Abbadi seemed nervous and his Argentine rival could sense that, pushing him towards the ropes and picking him off with some good early body shots. The young Algerian orthodox fighter however came back strong, using his jab effectively and drawing his rival in before throwing some good straights from the second round onwards. In the latter stages, Abbadi moved with swagger, switching stance, on his way to solid victory to get his team back on level terms in the match.
The rising star of Argentine boxing and the poster-boy of the Condors team, the tall and rangy 21-year-old Yamil Peralta began a breakneck speed against Algerian Light Heavyweight (80-85kg) Nabil Kassel in the penultimate contest of the night. Using his height well, Peralta was aggressive and unrelenting, showing his trademark youthful exuberance. His undoubted talent was confirmed as he picked his shots to perfection on his way to a third win in as many fights in his maiden WSB season, giving Condors back the advantage in the match and provisionally moving up to first in the division’s individual ranking.
It was the Chouaib Bouloudinats show in the Heavyweight (91+kg) contest with the Algerian superstar just too strong and fast for the Condors’ Angel Villalba. The 25-year-old hard-hitting Bouloudinats was fierce and his experience of the competition told as he danced around the Argentine 33-year-old, showing his repertoire of shots on his way to victory.
The draw does not suit either of the teams, with both having a tough schedule ahead. Argentina next welcome Azerbaijan Baku Fires at the Club Social y Deportivo on Saturday 19 January while Algeria’s match against Russia is scheduled for the 15 February so the Desert Hawks’ next fixture will be their showndown away to Azerbaijan on the second of that month.
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Fortress Foro Polanco lived up to its name once again but it was not a straightforward night for Mexico Guerreros after they had to dig deep to inflict defeat on the visiting Russia team. In the end, 2012 World Series of Boxing (WSB) Individual Championships finalist pair Elias Emigdio and Juan Romero had done enough to ensure they claimed the victory that ensured they remained top of the table in Group A.
In the first contest of the night, explosive 21-year-old orthodox Mexican Emigdio moved up to the first in the Bantamweight (50-54kg) individual rankings following a polished performance versus Mukhammad Shekhov. The classy Emgidio continued his early season good form in this one, dictating proceedings and peppering his opponent with a sumptuous array of shots throughout the five rounds. The Russian southpaw was unable to cope with the speed, agility and constant barrage of punches he was subject to and Emigdio won in style.
Lightweight (57-61kg) star and WSB Champion Romero then made his way into the ring to face the untested Konstantin Bogomazov. The 22-year-old had to work hard against a dangerous counter-puncher but using his range well, Romero was able to dominate for large spells. The Mexican orthodox fighter had to stay alert but in the end did enough to prevail by split decision to increase his team’s lead in the tie.
Isaac Munoz Gutierrez then locked horns with the impressive 29-year-old orthodox fighter Danil Shved in the Light Heavyweight (80-85kg) bout. The young Mexican struggled to contain the power and precision of the savvy Shved in the first two rounds but a huge left hook in the third saw him spark into life to claw back his deficit. However Shved was not to be undone and cleverly stepped up the tempo to dominate once more, unloading some punishing hooks to both the head and the body of his opponent to win.
The Heavyweight (91+kg) contest was over within seconds of the first bell after a huge straight right by Russia’s Maxim Babanin floored 26-year-old Venezuelan Jose Payares. The Guerreros fighter was counted out after being caught him flush in the jaw, Babanin taking the win by KO and ensuring Russia left the Mexican capital with a precious point.
After fracturing his hand in his final training session, Russia’s Aleksandr Ivanov was unable to take part in the Middleweight (68-73kg) contest with Marvin Cabrera so the overall victory was awarded to Mexico Guerreros.
Mexico now travel to Poland to face the Hussars at the Hala Znicz Pruszkow on Friday 18 January whilst Russia are next scheduled to face Azerbaijan Baku Fires away.
