| |
|
|
Monte Carlo works It's Magic
By Damon Gonzalez
Monte Carlo - Having just staged a seventh successful
tournament in three years in Monte Carlo, promoter Rodney
Berman was beaming on Sunday morning.
“These things are never easy to put together, but it’s
always worth it in the end,” he said.
Indeed, the five fights on the “Night of Champions”
tournament card were variable in quality, but they were all
competitive and pleasing to the eye. Given what the
principals in Monaco are after, the tournament delivered.
Indeed, negotiations are far advanced for Golden Gloves to
host another two events in the principality in 2016,
continuing a tradition that has frequently given rise to
fantastic match-ups.
Among the many conversations Berman had this week was with
Art Pelullo, his friend and fellow promoter who looks after
Ruslan Provodnikov. With Pelullo confident of securing the
Russian a world title fight in the coming months, Berman
says it is possible it could take place in Monte Carlo.
The Monte Carlo shows are international by nature,
reflecting Golden Gloves’ broad ambitions, and while South
African boxers won’t necessarily be included, nor will they
be excluded. Berman explained that he would always seek out
opportunities for SA boxers, but the match-ups had to make
sense to an international audience.
Tommy Oosthuizen was meant to head the card against Juergen
Braehmer, but injury to the German scuppered the bout.
Provodnikov was contacted at late notice and proved a more
than adequate replacement, bringing his unique brand of fire
and fury to this coastal paradise.
Said Berman: “We’re still doing the de-briefing, but the
sense I got of it was overall satisfaction. Monte Carlo
needs to deliver and so do we. That’s always the challenge .
. . to do it bigger and better. That never changes.”
Ruslan Provodnikov promised to put on a show and he didn’t
disappoint as he overwhelmed unbeaten Jesus Alvarez
Rodriguez in four rounds at the glitzy Salle Des Etoiles in
Monte Carlo on Saturday night.
With HRH Prince Albert looking on, the former WBO
junior-welterweight champion wasn’t unduly stretched as he
hit his stride early and pounded away until the finish of
their scheduled 10-round welterweight clash. The Russian was
the aggressor and although his Mexican opponent had some
success counter-punching, he didn’t have the strength to
hold off Provodnikov.
Rodriguez was sent reeling in the fourth, taking an
eight-count after a succession of hooks to the body. After
Rodriguez was decked again soon after, referee Stan
Christodoulou wisely called a halt. It was Provodnikov’s
first win since his narrow April defeat to Lucas Matthysse.
“I must praise Rodriguez,” said the Russian later. “A lot of
big names didn’t want to fight, but he did.”
Earlier, David Avaneseyan of Armenia scored a ninth-round
TKO over Venezuela’s Charlie Navarro for the WBA Interim
welterweight title.
Navarro was a game opponent, but the Armenian took over from
the fifth round, switching between orthodox and southpaw in
a bid to throw Navarro off track. The Venezuelan was
deducted a point in the fifth round for a low blow, which
foreshadowed his gameplan unravelling.
After being put over in the ninth round he was asked by
Christodoulou whether he wanted to continue. With a shake of
the head, it was waved over.
Countryman Yonfrez Parejo had no better luck as he dropped a
split decision to Ricky Hatton protégé Zhanat Zhakayinov for
the WBA Interin bantamweight title.
Scores were 115-113 and 116-113 to Zhakayinov and 116-112 to
Parejo.
It was nip and tuck from beginning to end with the Kazakh’s
crisper punching giving him the edge.
In the night’s most explosive finish, cruiserweight Youri
Kalenga of the Democratic Republic of Congo produced a
devastating left hook to knock Roberto Bolonti of Argentina
out in the ninth round.
Despite being put down twice in the third round, the
Argentine proved a resilient opponent who often made Kalenga
miss and was typically awkward. Bolonti also lost a point in
the seventh for using his head.
Kalenga tended to be wild at times, but there was nothing
wrong with his finish as he caught a back-pedalling Bolonti
flush, sending him down for the full count.
In a fight for the WBC Silver super-bantamweight title, Qui
Xiao Jun of China was barely troubled as he won via
11th-round TKO over Amor Beladj Ali of France.
Jun sent Ali to the canvas four times in all before his
southpaw opponent was mercifullyrescued in the 11th.
|
|
|
