Boxing News Boxing News
As you may already be aware, Dibella Entertainment, K2 Promotions and Golden Gloves boxing are heading down to the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo for a packed bill featuring the Kazakhstan born fan favorite Gennady Golovkin (25-0-0 22 KO’s) facing off against tough Japanese spoiler extraordinaire Nobuhiro Ishida (24-8-2 9 KO’s).
Also on the bill, Belarus born British mauler Sergey Rabchenko (22-0-0 16 KO’s) takes on battle hardened Italian Adrian Ricci (20-3-2 9 KO’s) and in the featured attraction, the two quartar finals to the big “Super Four” tournament.
And while Golovkin-Ishida, Rabchenko-Nicci and the rest of the bill provide sensational entertainment, the “Super 4” Tournament is what everyone is coming for – And it won’t disappoint.
The quarter finals pit top up and coming fighters Edwin Rodriguez (22-0-0 15 KO’s) of America by way of the Dominican Republic) and Ezequiel Maderna (19-0-0 13 KO’s) in a career-defining collision plus veteran combatants Zsolt Erdei (33-0-0 18 KO’s) of Hungary and Denis Grachev (12-1-1 8 KO’s) of Russia.
Rodriguez, 27, is known as the “Boxer” in the ring. And at a solid 6’0, he has the ability to keep his range, while down the stretch homing in his picture-perfect right hand down the pipe.
And with his sharp aim and leverage, he often torments his opponents into later-fight stoppages. He is hoping to pry away at Maderna to that form of success the same way.
Maderna, 26, is the wild card here. While he doesn’t contain the fame Rodriguez or Erdei do in their respective countries, he has a stern possibility to shock the world come fight day.
He holds wins over regional talents Ruban Acosta, Jorge Olivera, and Oscar Veliz, with that he feels ready to plant his feet on the international stage. But he has a real wall to break down first.
Erdei, 37, is returning on the back of a 21 month hiatus. And you should be skeptical on if he has the reflexes that formerly would have allowed him to derail the excessive pressure a tank like Grachev offers.
I flashback to his 2009 bout with Giacobbe Fragomeni, who left him on the back foot just edging a majority nod. A primed combatant like Grachev may trouble an even slightly regressed “matador” in Erdei. The wings had better be working in this potential war he has coming up, or his glorious “0” will have to go.
Grachev, 30, may be a one dimensional fighter. And in the eyes of the majority of people a Denis Grachev victory is implausible. But wait, I remember April of 2012 a steaming hot prospect in Ismayl Sillakh emerged for an all Russian clash with Grachev on ESPN’s FNF.
Sillakh, a heavy favorite, was outboxing Grachev for the first eight rounds. Unintimidated by Grachev’s power, he began to slope his hands down. And he payed for that mistake in one catastrophic right hook which left the dazed fighter on the deck for the count.
Grachev may be basic, but one right hand can do it all for him, and he’ll bring it in full during his vicious assaults.
A flavorful contrast of styles is demonstrated. With all men despite for a victory you can expect a fight of the year candidate or two on March 30th.
Be sure to order this ideally matched independent PPV from your TV provider or go to GFL.TV for more information and a quality internet stream!
Super Middleweight news bits:
Skilled American contender Andre Dirrell is set to face veteran Ossie Duran on April 12th at a to be determined location in Temecula, California. ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights will televise the main bouts of the bill.
Queens based contender Will “Power” Rosinsky could face well skilled Brandon Gonzales in early April, says Dibella Entertainment. The bout could possibly headline a Broadway boxing bill on ESPN 2.
Andre Ward reports he returned to training last week, lightly, after an injury in prep for a bout with Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik
Hard-hitting Chicagoan Don George faces Mexican fringe-contender David Alonso-Lopez at a catchweight on March 22th at the UIC Pavilion. ESPN 2 will televise the main event.
