This weekend, in all honesty, is a very busy one, on both the world title front and the general boxing front. When it comes to busy weeks there is always a fight or two that gets forgotten about and this week the clearest example of that is the WBA "interim" Super Middleweight title bout in Ukraine.
The defending champion, Ukrainian fighter Stanyslav Kashtanov (30-1, 16), may very well be the most obscure champion active champion, even in the current world of "interim" champions. It's fair to say that he wouldn't make it into my top 20 at Super Middleweight though the intelligence of the WBA has seen him ending up with a world title.
Although obscure Kashtanov is a decent enough fighter. In a by gone era of champions defending on a regular basis he'd be a fringe contender who would likely have gotten a chance somewhere down the line to fight the champion, and lose to him. Instead Kashtanov has collected one of the most paper belts in the sport, and even then it took him two tries.
For people who just go through Kashtanov's record they will notive that he won his last fight, against Server Yemurlayev, for the title via a split decision. Whilst Kashtanov didn't shut out Yemurlayev by any means he was a clearer winner than the cards would show, in fact only the card of Chalerm Prayadsab actually reflected the nature of the bout.
The Ukrainian is well schooled. He does haven't the power to really keep good fighters off him, or the skills or speed to out box opponents but what he does have is the solid fundamentals with which to forge a decent career. He's never going to be a superstar but he's the type of guy who is well schooled enough to only really be beaten by the genuine top 10-15 style of fighters.
Challenging Kashtanov is the very limited and yet very lucky Costa Rican challenger Jaime Barboza (18-7, 8).
If Kashtanov misses out on my top 10, Barboza misses out on, probably being in my top 100.
The 35 year old Barboza is a fighter who has lost 4 of his last 6 and who's only win of note is erm, er, Jose Pinzon, who you know is so notable!
Okay I lied, Barboza doesn't have any wins of note. He's been a Costa Rican national champion and held various C level titles such as the WBA Fedelatin Super Middleweight title but he's never looked capable at the B grade and in his previous "interim" world title fight he was widely beaten, at home, by Brian Magee.
Although Barboza has proven to be tough with just a sole stoppage loss, coming in a rematch to Pinzon, he is very limited and it's hard to imagine him doing too much to really trouble Kashtanov here who should have the ability and know how to take a very clear decision.
Prediction-Kashtanov UD 12
Showing posts with label Stanyslav Kashtanov. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanyslav Kashtanov. Show all posts
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Thursday, 8 November 2012
Stanyslav Kashtanov v Server Yemurlayev
In the past I have regularly complained about how meaningless the WBA "interim" title is, and we see this issue raising it's head twice this weekend. We see it at Flyweight with Juan Carlos Reveco having a "stay busy" fight against Julian Rivera and we also see it in the Ukraine as the WBA's "interim" Super Middleweight title is on the line as Stanyslav Kashtanov (29-1, 16) faces compatriot Server Yemurlayev (22-0, 8) in what can only be described as having a title for titles sake.
The Super Middleweight division, as we all know, revolves around American star Andre Ward who is the WBA's "Super" champion and the WBC champion. Then we have Carl Froch (IBF champion), Arthur Abraham (WBO champion) and in December we will crown a new WBA "regular" champion as Brian Magee faces Mikkel Kessler. As well as this bunch of top class fighters we also have top contenders such as Lucien Bute, Robert Stieglitz, Andre Dirrell and Kelly Pavlik. Basically the division is stacked and sadly neither of the fighters fighting for WBA "interim" title deserves to be mentioned alongside the elite.
Of the two men Stanyslav Kashtanov is the better known fighter having been unlucky not to have actually claimed this very same title 15 months ago as he was controversially defeated by Karoly Balzsay. In that performance Kashtanov proved that he could hold his own at fringe world level and whilst he was unlucky to lose, he proved that he was perhaps a genuine future title contender.
Sadly however aside from the fight with Balzay, Kashtanov is really unproven with his "next best well known opponent" being Belorussian journeyman Kanstantsin Makhankou (who has genuinely fought a who's who, though sadly seems to have retired). This would suggest that whilst Kashtanov has got ability his actually level is really hard to determine.
Whilst I don't know a lot about Kashtanov it's fair to say I know a lot more about him than I know about Server Yemurlayev who turned professional in 2007 and has yet to face a really notable opponent, with the best opponent probably being Bernard Donfack.
What we do know about Yemurlayev is that he's not only untested, but has hardly done anything of note. He really has no power (a 36% stoppage rate) and yet has only been 10 or more rounds on 2 occasions, giving Kashtanov a big advantage in terms of rounds fought, ability to score stoppages and tested stamina.
When it comes to this fight it's hard to really say too much about either man, however I do favour that Kashtanov, mixing at a higher level will serve him well here.
Prediction-Kashtanov UD12
The Super Middleweight division, as we all know, revolves around American star Andre Ward who is the WBA's "Super" champion and the WBC champion. Then we have Carl Froch (IBF champion), Arthur Abraham (WBO champion) and in December we will crown a new WBA "regular" champion as Brian Magee faces Mikkel Kessler. As well as this bunch of top class fighters we also have top contenders such as Lucien Bute, Robert Stieglitz, Andre Dirrell and Kelly Pavlik. Basically the division is stacked and sadly neither of the fighters fighting for WBA "interim" title deserves to be mentioned alongside the elite.
Of the two men Stanyslav Kashtanov is the better known fighter having been unlucky not to have actually claimed this very same title 15 months ago as he was controversially defeated by Karoly Balzsay. In that performance Kashtanov proved that he could hold his own at fringe world level and whilst he was unlucky to lose, he proved that he was perhaps a genuine future title contender.
Sadly however aside from the fight with Balzay, Kashtanov is really unproven with his "next best well known opponent" being Belorussian journeyman Kanstantsin Makhankou (who has genuinely fought a who's who, though sadly seems to have retired). This would suggest that whilst Kashtanov has got ability his actually level is really hard to determine.
Whilst I don't know a lot about Kashtanov it's fair to say I know a lot more about him than I know about Server Yemurlayev who turned professional in 2007 and has yet to face a really notable opponent, with the best opponent probably being Bernard Donfack.
What we do know about Yemurlayev is that he's not only untested, but has hardly done anything of note. He really has no power (a 36% stoppage rate) and yet has only been 10 or more rounds on 2 occasions, giving Kashtanov a big advantage in terms of rounds fought, ability to score stoppages and tested stamina.
When it comes to this fight it's hard to really say too much about either man, however I do favour that Kashtanov, mixing at a higher level will serve him well here.
Prediction-Kashtanov UD12
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