Wilder bombs out Liakhovich in first, clears another hurdle
By Nick Bellafatto, Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Indio,CA (August 10th, 2013)– It took all of 1 minute and 43 seconds of the very first round for Tuscaloosa, Alabama’s undefeated Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (29-0, 29 KO’s) to turn faded fighter and former WBO heavyweight champion Siarhei Liakhovich (25-6, 16 KO’s) of Vitebsk, Belarus into what looks to be a finished fighter. This from the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California last night.
Opening up a few more eyes along the way by connecting with yet another powerful right hand, the same right hand that had more or less leveled all 28 of his previous opponents, Deontay in no doubt his finest moment would put the Belarusian down and out to maintain an impressive 100% kayo ratio.
With the win the “Bronze Bomber’s” stock continues to rise, while in the minds of many he’s clearly separated himself from the mainly dismal and disappointing pack of American heavyweights to emerge as the top prospect.
Having said that, for many the skepticism will largely remain, based on the fact that Liakhovich was on the slide to begin with while previous victims against whom Deontay would make his bones were more or less considered virtual tomato cans.
And although there’s more truth to the above than not, to those with a pair of eyes and a little foresight, it goes against the grain relative to what the big picture seems to portend.
For until the fast rising Wilder is dealt a set-back, he looks to be on track to sooner rather than later successfully step up to the big time, i.e. facing one of the Klitschko’s should they hang around long enough.
However, Deontay has already gone on record to state that he’s first interested in defining himself as America’s best by toppling any and all fellow countrymen worthy of consideration.
But perhaps two or three fights removed from legitimately challenging for a major world title, I surmise if the opportunity presents itself Mr. Wilder would rather scrap his current itinerary opting instead to prove he’s the best in the world. Stay tuned.
Vargas outclasses Broner stablemate Bennet
With virtually no deterrent force whatsoever on his shots, the formerly undefeated Brandon Bennet (16-1, 7 KO’s) of Cincinnati, Ohio, accompanied by stablemate Adrien Broner himself, would after 10 rounds of boxing seriously fail to live up to his alias, “Untouchable.”
Succumbing to an all-out pressure attack of the still unblemished Mexico City resident Francisco Vargas (17-0-1, 13 KO’s) who would touch Bennet where he pleased, Francisco after a first round feel-out process would outwork, outland, and otherwise outclass his opponent. The end result, a unanimous decision verdict awarded to Vargas, the scores of which would read 99-90, 99-91, and 98-92.
The only answer Bennet could come up with against the Mexican who turned pro at the ripe age of 25, was to resort to excessive holding, and leading with his head on occasion to first cause a cut over Vargas’s eye, to then widen that same cut with what looked to be an intentional butt.
Overall a sloppy performance by Bennet of which Broner would state, “it’s a learning experience.” A few more experiences like that and Bennet will be lucky to land another televised bout while if Vargas had any power in his punches viewers would have been spared the drudgery.
Jermall Charlo handles his business
To open the Showtime tripleheader, the less professionally accomplished of the Charlo twins out of Houston, Texas Jermall (15-0, 11 KO’s), would stop Miami, Florida’s Antwone Smith (23-5-1, 12 KO’s) with the second of two effective right hands. The time, 2:23 of round 2.
The initial right hand would put Smith on shaky legs, while a follow-up right, a more solidly connected blow, would deposit the Floridian on the canvass, only to see referee Tommy Taylor waive the bout off when Smith rose to his feet without the faculty of his legs beneath him.
Not to take away from Jermall who needs to further the competition at this juncture, but Smith coming overweight in 3 consecutive bouts may say more about the end result than anything else
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