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Krusher Cruises To Victory In Cruiserweight Debut
By Igor Frank
Thrillers entry into a world of boxing continued on Saturday
night as Great Western Forum in Inglewood California played
host to Fight Club’s TrillerVerz . Boxing and music mix very
well according to color commentator and former welterweight
champion, Shawn Porter. And that is what TrillerVerz was all
about, mixing rap competition with fistic combat. Since I
don’t know” s..t” about rap (as late Roger Mayweather would
say) I will direct my attention to boxing show, which I
would venture to call a family affair since it featured
three kids of former ring star Fernando Vargas, a son Ring
legend, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield and two Pulev
brothers from Bulgaria.
21-year old junior lightweight, Amado Vargas (4-0,2KO’s)
scored a unanimous decision over Anel Dudo(1-4-1,1KO).” My
dad told me to keep boxing and be smart,” said Vargas:” I am
very happy with my performance.” Super welterweight Fernando
Vargas Jr and his eighteen years old brother Emiliano both
scored first round knock outs electrifying the crowd at the
Forum.
Evander Holyfield’s off spring was not as fortunate. Evan
“Young Holy” Holyfield got smacked in the jaw by a huge
right hand from unheralded Jurmain McDonald in the second
stanza. Referee Raul Caiz Jr stopped the contest at the
count of eight as Evan was in no condition to continue.
Pulev brothers split the bill competing in co feature and
main event. Heavyweight Kubrat Pulev had to wait for over an
hour along with all the fans, because his opponent Jerry
Forrest didn’t bring the right gloves to the fight. Finally
Pulev gave his opponent his spare gloves to salvage the
contest. In the ring ring , Pulev dominated the action and
won a workman like unanimous decision over crafty Forrest
who was able to avoid a lot of punches, but couldn’t muster
much of an offence.
But the main reason most boxing fans invaded the Kia Forum
on Saturday night was the return of Sergei “The Krusher’
Kovalev against undefeated cruiserweight, Tervell Pulev.
Krusher hasn’t seen action in the ring since he was brutally
stopped by Canelo Alvarez in 2019. Despite ring rust Kovalev
cruised to an easy decision victory over Tervell. Using his
trademark jab Sergei exhibited flashes of old Krusher,
unleashing fluid combinations. Despite a spirited effort
Kovalev was not able Pulev and had to settle for a decision.
“I am just going to keep in shape after this fight,” said
Kovalev after he had his hand raised in victory: “We will
rest one week and then get back in the gym. Of course there
was some ring rust. Without boxing at high level for over a
year, my body doesn’t like this. I want to fight every three
or four month. But I felt like I didn’t have enough energy
in my body. I think in my next fight, it would be at a
higher level. Give me one more fight, and I”ll be ready for
a world title opportunity.”
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