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World-Rated Light Heavyweight Ali Izmailov Plows Through
Tough Veteran Israel Duffus
Power-punching WBC #13 and WBO #14 light heavyweight
contender Ali Izmailov returned to action last Friday night
(January 7, 2022) with an impressive four-round stoppage of
capable Panamanian veteran Israel Duffus on the untelevised
undercard of the ShoBox: The New Generation event at the
Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla.
One of the heaviest punchers in the world at 175 lbs.,
Izmailov (7-0, 5 KOs), from Malgobek, Russia, had things all
his way against the determined but outgunned former WBC
FECARBOX Light Heavyweight Champion Duffus (20-8, 17 KOs).
Despite facing a long list of top prospects, the normally
durable Duffus hasn’t lost to a fighter with a loss on his
record since 2014 and hadn’t been stopped since 2016.
Izmailov dropped Duffus in the third with a clubbing right
hand and stunned him badly with another before Referee Chris
Young halted the action mercifully at :34 of the fourth.
As promised, Izmailov concentrated much of his brutal attack
on the body with both of his concrete hands, which softened
Duffus up for the thudding finish. Surprisingly, Izmailov
looks to have shored up his defense considerably as Duffus
missed more than other opponents have previously in the
Russian’s career.
The fight was Izmailov’s second with all-star trainer John
David Jackson, with whom he now works and resides in
Florida.
“I felt unbeatable,” said Izmailov, post-fight. “He couldn’t
touch me and I was hitting harder than ever. Thank you to my
trainer John David and Salita Promotions for this
opportunity to stay active and show my improved skills.”
“Ali’s fight last Friday was a very good performance for
him,” added John David Jackson. “He systematically broke his
opponent down with a good jab, a great body attack and very
good defense. Some people were concerned with the opponent
we had chosen for him, but I knew that he would come through
with flying colors. He is definitely ready for bigger and
better boxing matches.”
Quickly gaining a reputation with his punching power as the
next Russian Bloc strongman soon to make his considerable
presence felt in the light heavyweight division, the
28-year-old Izmailov appears to be rounding into form for a
championship challenge, despite just seven professional
fights. The former amateur star has been fast-tracked by
promoter Salita, who says he likes what he saw last Friday
from his fighter.
“I was very impressed with the improvements Ali and John
have already made together,” said Dmitriy Salita. “Ali is
going from the hardest puncher in the division to a
nightmare for anyone to try and face with John in his corner
and it showed Friday night. That was a good opponent that
Ali took apart easily and didn’t have to pay a heavy price
for doing it with his improved defense. I am very happy with
his performance, overall. He will be in an even bigger fight
sometime this year.”
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