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Tonight’s fight in Philadelphia between light heavyweights Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Artur Beterbiev was the sort of match-up that doesn’t come down the pike very often. Both were undefeated, both had world title belts, and a betting man could take his pick without having to lay odds. There was a widespread feeling that the fight would be as competitive and as entertaining as the recent fight between Gennady Golovkin and Sergiy Derevyanchenko.
It was a very competitive fight through the first eight rounds although one could see that the Russian, Beterbiev, was the stronger man and had less likelihood of fading as the bout moved into the homestretch. The tide turned sharply in Beterbiev's favor in the ninth. Gvozdyk looked discouraged as he returned to his corner.
In the tenth, Beterbiev turned up the heat. He had Gvozdyk on the canvas three times before the fight was called off. With the win, Beterbiev improved to 15-0, kept his knockout streak intact, become a multi-belt holder, and built a strong case that he is the best fighter in the 175-pound class. It was the first pro loss for Gvozdyk (17-1) who was also defeated by Beterbiev in the amateurs.
In the 10-round co-feature, welterweight Kudratillo Abdukakhorov improved to 17-0 (9) with a technical decision over 38-year-old war horse Luis Collazo who hurt his left forearm in round five but yet continued to press the action. A clash of heads in the final round caused a wicked cut on Collazo’s right eyelid, forcing a premature stoppage. The fight went to the cards with the Malaysia-based Abdukakhorov prevailing on scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 98-93.
Other Bouts
Philadelphia’s heavyweight prospect Sonny Conto (5-0, 4 KOs) made quick work of South Louisiana’s overmatched Stephen Lyons (5-6). The bout was stopped after the opening round. Tyson Fury, who has sparred with Conto, walked him into the ring and then spent time with the broadcasting crew hyping his forthcoming WWE appearance in Saudi Arabia.
Twenty-year-old Puerto Rico-born lightweight Joseph Adorno needed less than two full rounds to dispose of Argentina import Damian Alejandro Sosa. Adorno decked Sosa near the end of the first round with a left hook and knocked him face first through the ropes with a right hand in the next frame, forcing an immediate stoppage. Adorno now 14-0 (12 KOs). Sosa fell to 9-3.
Joseph’s younger brother, 18-year-old Jeremy Adorno, advanced to 4-0 in a 4-round super bantamweight contest with a unanimous decision over Misael Reyes (1-3) from Kansas City by way of Juarez. The scores were 38-37 and 40-35 twice. There are three younger boys in the Adorno household in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Late bloomer Michael Seals, a 37-year-old light heavyweight from Atlanta, improved to 25-2 (18) with a first-round blast-out of Argentina’s Elio Heraldo Trosch. It was Trosch’s U.S. debut and it was here and gone in 98 seconds.
Check back early tomorrow for a more thorough recap by TSS ringside correspondent Bernard Fernandez.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank
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