Over the past few years the Cruiserweight division has become a show stealer. No longer is it merely the bastard division between Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight but it's now it's own, highly established and amazingly entertaining division which brings us more action pound-for-pound than almost any other division in the sport. In fact for me it's the second division in the sport right now behind the red hot Flyweight division.
One problem with the Cruiserweight division however is that over the past few years it has been European centric with very little action coming stateside. That changes a little this Friday as Poland's Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (48-2-1, 24) takes his WBC title over to Chicago to defend it against Italian veteran Giacobbe Fragomeni (31-3-2, 12). This, the third meeting between the two men, will see Fragomeni seeking to tie the scoreline between the two men which currently sees Wloadrczyk leading 1-0 with 1 fight scored a draw.
At 44 years old Fragomeni is a bit of a freak of a freak. He's been one of the top Cruiserweights on the plant from around 2006 and despite a loss to David Haye that year it was obvious that Fragomeni had the talent to one day be a world champion.
Fragomeni would later become a title holder. In 2008 he beat Rudolph Kraj by 8th round technical decision to claim the WBC title, a title he would successfully defend once, scoring a draw with Wlodarczyk in that defense. Unfortunately he reign was curtailed by Hungarian Zsolt Erdei one fight later before a Wlodarczyk rematch saw Fragomeni being stopped in 8 rounds.
Since the loss to Wlodarczyk in 2010 Fragomeni has gone 5-0-1, claiming the WBC silver title in the process with a split decision over fellow Italian veteran Silvio Branco. It's that silver title that has helped Fragomeni getting a third fight with Wlodarczyk.
A warrior at heart Fragomeni's inclusion in a bout tends to leave us with an exciting action. Not often much in terms of "sweet science" but plenty of action all the same.
Much like the challenger Wlodarczyk, a 32 year who has previously held the IBF title, is a warrior. He's slightly better technically than Fragomeni but is mainly a tough and gutsy fighter who excellent engine and sheer bloody mindedness.
One of the weaknesses of Wlodarczyk is that he is a slow starter and he can be put over. Problem with knocking him over however is that he has the uncanny ability to just get up and fight back. This is what saved him last time out when he was dropped and dominated early on by Rakhim Chakhkiev.
When he's got his engine going and everything clicks however Wlodarczyk is a monster to defeat. He's got a great work rate, fantastic punch selection, good combinations and really hurtful power. He's not going to knock world level fighters out with one shot too often but every shot looks hurtful, every shot is grinding and every shot does damage. When he lets them go they have the capability of breaking down almost anyone in the division.
It's the grinding effect of Wlodarczyk that I think will take it's effect here as he breaks down Fragomeni and stops him around round 7 or 8 with the Italian veteran looking his age for a round or two before the stoppage. Thankfully for the first 5 or 6 rounds we should get some genuinely enthralling action that will hopefully make the US audience want to see more of this generation of brilliant Cruiserweights.
Prediction-Wlodarczyk TKO8
Showing posts with label Polish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Polish. Show all posts
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Krzysztof Wlodarczyk v Rakhim Chakhkiev
The boxing weekend kicks off a few hours early this week as Russia hosts a Cruiserweight world title bout between WBC champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (47-2-1, 33) and highly regarded Russian Rakhim Chakhkiev (16-0, 12).
Chakhkiev, stepping up to the world level for the first time as a professional had been tipped for professional stardom following an excellent amateur career that included an Olympic gold medal and an World Amateur Championship silver medal. Sadly his rise to the top of the paid ranks has been slower than expected due to issues with promotional outfit Universum.
Having effectively wasted a year or so of his career with poor match ups the 30 year old Chakhkiev is finally being let off the leash and being given a chance to impress fans in his native Russia (having been based in Germany for his career so far).
Hard hitting, aggressively minded and highly skilled Chakhkiev is very fun to watch and destructive to both the head and body. Defensively he's not great but with his style he rarely needs to show off great defense instead living by the adage of "his offense is his best defense" and in all honesty his body shots take that much out of opponents that they are often too busy protecting themselves than to strike back.
Although Chakhkiev has yet to go the 12 round distance he has has recorded 2 decision victories over 10 rounds and scored a 9th round stoppage testing out his stamina as much as anything else. It's his stamina over 12 rounds that is quite possible the only real question mark over the man dubbed "The Machine".
In Wlodarczyk we have a very competent champion but yet an unimpressive one. He's a fighter who at his best looks like a really good fighter but all too often looks lazy, uninterested and like he's turning up for a sparring session as opposed to a fight. Sure he wins most fights but that also has something to do with favourable judging and weak opponents.
The Polish champion has certainly faced some stiff competition in his 50 fight career including twice facing Steve Cunningham (winning a controversial one and losing one), twice defeating Francisco Palacios and twice facing Giacobbe Fragomeni (winning one and drawing one). Though those fights have been interspersed with opponents like Jason Robinson and Dominique Alexander who really do not deserve to be in the ring with a world level opponent.
Although Wlodarczyk, known as "Diablo", can be made to look lazy he is tough and does hit extremely hard. His shots seemed to hurt Cunningham and have stopped both Fragomeni and Danny Green. He's dangerous and his lethargic fighting style arguably makes him more dangerous as you never really know when he's going to put his weight behind a shot.
As well as Wlodarczyk's power he has a solid jab and can use it well to keep opponents at range. He'll need to be able to use it well to keep Chakhkiev away or else he'll be in a world of pain, especially from the devastating body attack of the Russian.
Going in to this bout Chakhkiev is a strong betting favourite. Yes he's the man stepping up but on perceived talent and a Russian crowd behind him it's hard to see him losing.
Prediction-UD12 Chakhkiev
Chakhkiev, stepping up to the world level for the first time as a professional had been tipped for professional stardom following an excellent amateur career that included an Olympic gold medal and an World Amateur Championship silver medal. Sadly his rise to the top of the paid ranks has been slower than expected due to issues with promotional outfit Universum.
Having effectively wasted a year or so of his career with poor match ups the 30 year old Chakhkiev is finally being let off the leash and being given a chance to impress fans in his native Russia (having been based in Germany for his career so far).
Hard hitting, aggressively minded and highly skilled Chakhkiev is very fun to watch and destructive to both the head and body. Defensively he's not great but with his style he rarely needs to show off great defense instead living by the adage of "his offense is his best defense" and in all honesty his body shots take that much out of opponents that they are often too busy protecting themselves than to strike back.
Although Chakhkiev has yet to go the 12 round distance he has has recorded 2 decision victories over 10 rounds and scored a 9th round stoppage testing out his stamina as much as anything else. It's his stamina over 12 rounds that is quite possible the only real question mark over the man dubbed "The Machine".
In Wlodarczyk we have a very competent champion but yet an unimpressive one. He's a fighter who at his best looks like a really good fighter but all too often looks lazy, uninterested and like he's turning up for a sparring session as opposed to a fight. Sure he wins most fights but that also has something to do with favourable judging and weak opponents.
The Polish champion has certainly faced some stiff competition in his 50 fight career including twice facing Steve Cunningham (winning a controversial one and losing one), twice defeating Francisco Palacios and twice facing Giacobbe Fragomeni (winning one and drawing one). Though those fights have been interspersed with opponents like Jason Robinson and Dominique Alexander who really do not deserve to be in the ring with a world level opponent.
Although Wlodarczyk, known as "Diablo", can be made to look lazy he is tough and does hit extremely hard. His shots seemed to hurt Cunningham and have stopped both Fragomeni and Danny Green. He's dangerous and his lethargic fighting style arguably makes him more dangerous as you never really know when he's going to put his weight behind a shot.
As well as Wlodarczyk's power he has a solid jab and can use it well to keep opponents at range. He'll need to be able to use it well to keep Chakhkiev away or else he'll be in a world of pain, especially from the devastating body attack of the Russian.
Going in to this bout Chakhkiev is a strong betting favourite. Yes he's the man stepping up but on perceived talent and a Russian crowd behind him it's hard to see him losing.
Prediction-UD12 Chakhkiev
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