Ringside Report: Holt – Khodokovski Boxing Action
Full Round by Round Recap with Huge Photo Gallery
| In an important light welter contest last night on the Atlantic City Klitschko – Peter undercard, New Jersey man Kendall Holt pulled out a controversial unanimous decision against overachieving Ukrainian Vladimir Khodokovski.
The bout starts off with the southpaw Khodokovski trying to find a way past the jab of the lightning quick Holt. Looking like a mini Roy Jones, Holt keeps his |
 © Curtis McCormick |
opponent off balance with quick footwork and the jab. Khodokovski rushes Holt and finds success as the man from Paterson backs straight up with hands down around his waist, preferring to move his head rather than to raise his guard. The pro Ukrainian crowd cheers every time their man throws a punch, whether it’s successful or not. Near the end of the round, Holt sticks Khodokovski with a few sharp counters and looks to be going forward effectively behind the jab.
Holt 10-9
The second begins where the first round left off, with Holt all business and closing distance. Khodokovski turns the tide with a drive on Holt that lands a few punches and the taller man seems surprised at the European’s determination. Holt tries to regain control with the jab but again backs straight up from a rush by Khodokovski and gets tagged. Khodokovski twice hits Holt with lunging right hands before Holt cranks home a crisp counter hook that stops his adversary’s momentum. Khodokovski is now more cautious and Holt tries to keep his rival on the defensive with a probing jab. The American beams in a nice counter right hand that rocks Khodokovski and again finds a home for the right. The round ends with Holt posing ala Roy Jones, daring his foe to bring it.
10-10
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Holt holds his ground in the third and keeps Khodokovski at bay before the southpaw nails the prospect with a right hand but is thwarted in his follow up attempt to the body as Holt covers up effectively. Holt starts to advance and when Khodokovski drops his hands, the North Jersey boxer lands a smart combination that surprises the shorter man. Khodokovski tries to retaliate but gets tagged by a counter left from a backpedaling Holt. Khodokovski tries to close distance, scores with a left before Holt grabs him and rakes the body with both hands. The round ends as the two fighters warily eye each other.
Holt 10-9
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The fourth begins with Holt driving Khodokovski back before landing a spearing body shot right on the beltline. Khodokovski responds by driving Holt into the ropes and scoring a one – two combination. As the two stand facing each other at the center of the ring, trading feigns, the crowd tires of waiting for action and sets off a chorus of boos. Khodokovski fails to ignite the crowd when he misses a wild two punch combination and ends up on the ropes. Holt tries to take advantage with a flurry on his opponent but nothing of consequence results. Khodokovski wings a few shots but Holt catches the effort on his gloves. Holt launches a three punch combination that is blocked until the fourth blow sinks deep into the Eastern European’s ribcage. The round ends with Khodokovski driving Holt onto the ropes but can do nothing of substance.
10-10
© Curtis McCormick
In what is still a largely tactical match with only sporadic action, Khodokovski tries to close the distance but loses an exchange as Holt snaps off a sharp right. The success continues as Holt bangs out a jab, catches a right to the chest before backing off Khodokovski with a few shots. Khodokovski tries to turn his fortunes around with a rush but Holt dances away avoiding the southpaw’s efforts. Holt tries a combination but Khodokovski ducks it before driving Holt into a corner and banging the taller man with a left hand then a right. Holt backpedals and eats a snappy right before stopping Khodokovski’s good fortune with a one – two. A lull follows and the audience begins to boo. Khodokovski lunges forward but Holt uses his footwork to avoid any problems. Holt cracks the Ukrainian with a right before getting bulled into the ropes but to no effect. Holt scores with a good right hand body shot at the bell.
Holt 10-9
© Curtis McCormick
After the bell begins the sixth, Holt keeps his foe unsure with a series of jabs before Khodokovski whips in a few body shots and backs Holt into the corner, doing good work. Holt punches his way out and the crowd cheers the two way action. The quick fisted light welter rips off a nice body to head sequence before getting on his bike. Khodokovski catches the speedster to the body, which earns him a hard right hand in return. Continuing forward, Khodokovski remains focused on the body as Holt dances around the ring, seeking to
stop the advances of his rival behind the jab. An exchange follows before Khodokovski lands a left to the body and follows up by whipping a right to Holt’s head. The round ends with Holt backing Khodokovski onto the ropes but nothing develops before the bell rings.
Khodokovski 10-9
© Curtis McCormick
Holt tries to bully Khodokovski in the beginning of the seventh and is the busier of the two. Khodokovski attempts to turn the pattern around while Holt is looking to counter. A good exchange follows and ends in a mid ring clinch. Khodokovski pressuring but has to avoid Holt’s countermeasures. Holt whips in a good combination, Khodokovski answers with a jab to the body before setting off to chase the American. Holt dances away but stops and is set upon by the Ukrainian who rams home several shots on the crouching foe. The audience cheers as a sharp exchange ensues. The fighters appear to be tiring and a series of clinches develop before Khodokovski closes out the round with two nice scoring left hands.
Khodokovski 10-9
© Curtis McCormick
The eighth starts with Holt reeling off a cracking right to the body that freezes his opponent momentarily. Holt does it again but this time draws return fire to his own midsection. Khodokovski looks very tired but still wins an exchange on the ropes then drives Holt on the ropes and again unloads a series of scoring blows. Holt backs him off with a right hand before getting on his bike with Khodokovski stalking. Holt sticks Khodokovski with a right at the end of a sequence before scoring with a left hook. The southpaw looks tired of chasing Holt around the ring and Holt obliges him as the two both succeed during a mid ring punch-up. The round ends with Khodokovski on the ropes and Holt landing a couple of shots.
10-10
Holt corners Khodokovski but can’t get anything done at the start of the ninth. Khodokovski rushes Holt who turns his back to the opponent and gets punched around. Holt backs off to the ropes where he’s getting pummeled. The lanky right hander reels off a good counter but Khodokovski won’t be put off and snaps Holt’s head back with a big left. Holt makes it off the ropes but Khodokovski rams a combination home. Holt regroups and stings Khodokovski with a couple of snapping blows but still the Ukrainian keeps at it. It’s not until the end that Holt can stem the tide with a series of bracing single shots that gained him a respite as the round ended.
Khodokovski 10-9
The tenth and final round starts and Holt scores with some jabs before cracking an incoming Khodokovski with a hot combination. Khodokovski is trying to bore his way in but is getting punished by the more skilled New Jersey man. Holt dances away from the opponent’s continued efforts before Khodokovski finally finds success with a lead right hook before missing the follow up left. Stiff exchange then occurs in the middle of the ring before Holt cranks in a right hand that doesn’t deter Khodokovski, who answers with a meaty body shot before Holt sends in a sizzling left hook. Holt gets in a jab but is hit a few times on the ropes before absorbing two lead left hands from Khodokovski. Holt gets on his bike but still gets hit with a Khodokovski left. With only a few seconds left, Holt inexplicably drops his hands and gets punched by Khodokovski. The round ends with Holt getting cautioned by the referee for rabbit punching the opponent.
10-10
The official scorecards were announced as 98-92, 97-93, 99-92
Saddoboxing scored the bout a draw at 97-97
Kendall Holt wins by unanimous decision to climb to 20-1 (12) while Vladimir Khodokovski
drops to 12-8-2 (4)
Contact Curtis McCormick at thomaspointrd@aol.com