Ali Izmailov,One of the Best Russian Boxing Prospects in The World, Wins Detroit Brawl Battle of Unbeatens
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent – Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Dearborn, Mi (April 3rd, 2022)– Ali Izmailov is, without a doubt, one of the best Russian prospects in the world in 2022, and Dmitriy Salita and Salita promotions have him. Izmailov has beaten seven opponents with a combined 134 wins between them, all of whom he has dominated, at times with his hands behind his back. Now ranked nineteenth in the world on BoxRec, Izmailov is, for sure, a top 20 world-ranked light heavyweight worthy of a regional or world title bout in the near future. The only question remaining is who Salita Promotions will put Izmailov in with next, as Izmailov will fight all comers.
Salita, on this occasion, put Izmailov, 7-0, into the preliminary to the main event with another 7-0, Abraham Tebes of Chile. Like the Columbian opponent who flew into the United States for the main event which followed, Tebes proved a winning record is deceiving versus the quality of the opponent. In the Tebes case, Izmailov was a 7-0 with a pedigree way over Tebes’ head. Still, he tried for three rounds, but Tebes looked more like a terrified 7-0 rabbit looking for a hole in the ground to hide in, going up against a more like a 47-0 hungry wolf named Izmailov.
The difference in abilities between the two fighters was clear. At 7-0, Abraham Teves, a developing fighter, was still only a four-round fighter. Izmailov, at 7-0, based on quality of opposition, training development, and what was observed from a ringside perspective, looked more like a 47-0 solid ten-round fighter, and the distinction has to be made between the abilities of the two 7-0 fighters. The abilities of two fighters with identical undefeated records can be huge, and one has to look beyond the paper to analyze the combatants.
Teves, of Iquique, Chile, now 7-1 with three knockouts, took a frightful beating for three rounds before the corner of Tebes ended the contest.
Izmailov, 8-0 with six knockouts, Malgobek, Russian Federation, Miami, Florida, who looks more like a Chechen Green Beret elite fighter with his ringing dark black beard, appears to be a Russian warrior on the battlefield with hard core battle experience as an unbeaten boxer, a highest caliber quality fighter, whereas Tebes, who never fell, had his face punched in and brutally bruised in less than 430 seconds. Izmailov boxed carefully, meticulously placing body and head punches pinpoint through the upraised defensive guard of Tebes, who threw some wild shots but rarely landed and punched himself out while taking a beating in the process. With former world champion John David Jackson training Izmailov and in his corner, this bout, stated again, was not even worthy of a four rounder due to the level of fighter Jackson has created in Izmailov.
Result: Ali Izmailov TKO 4 Abraham Tebes, Light Heavyweight (3:00)
Corner retirement. Not a close bout. More like a mismatched four rounder with no chance of going the distance. No argument from Tebes when his corner stopped the bout after round three, as he was completely battered and could not continue. Izmailov appeared to have no desire to hurt the man beyond the point where the bout was stopped. Tebes showed great courage, but lacked the depth of Izmailov’s hard core experience. Good stoppage.
With a spectacular introduction of Mexican Mariachi music players leading him into the ring, with trumpet, guitar and guitarron, undefeated lightweight prospect Erick De Leon made sure the colorful cultural Mexican music lasted longer than his main event¸ a first round knockout of late substitute Hevinson Herrera of Columbia, which wowed the capacity crowd at the Salita Promotions boxing card and Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, Saturday night, April 1, 2022. Happy Easter to all.
The southpaw lightweight contender De Leon, 20-0-1 with 12 knockouts, Detroit, Michigan via Sabina, Nueva Leon, Mexico, had been inactive for over 36 months since knocking out Jose Gallegos in the seventh round at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, in March 2019. De Leon, like many other top contenders, has had to deal with a lengthy period of inactivity during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and the withdrawal of his originally scheduled Mexican opponent Juan Jose “Piquet” Martinez.
DeLeon weighed in at super welterweight, Herrera at welterweight, the difference in normal weight class was attributed to the change in opponents. However, it hardly made a difference for this brief affair. De Leon felt Herrera, now 27-20-1 with 21 knockouts, Barranquilla, Columbia, out for a few moments, then cut off the ring and closed the show abruptly with a left to the head of Herrera, who went down on all fours and took the ten count from referee Frank Garza. Herrera has been knocked out in the first, second or third round eight times by superior fighters, and De Leon broke Herrera down fairly quickly.
While the main event was a crowd-pleasing stinker, the Mariachi music provided by Erick De Leon’s corner was great! Truth be told, event promoter Dmitriy Salita should have allowed the Mariachi players into the center ring to give those in attendance a complete concert. Herrera has no talent. The Mariachi players have tremendous talent, and the crowd, who loved the surprise, could have listened to the blaring Mexican trumpet and strumming acoustic guitars all night.
Result: Erick De Leon KO 1 Hevinson Herrera, Super Welterweights (2:48)
De Leon knocked out late-arriving substitute Herrera in a corner, where he was ten counted out by referee Frank Garza, and sent back to Columbia from where he came. De Leon’s quick knockout masked the fact he is supposed to be fighting in the 135 pounds lightweight weight class, and needs to return to his correct weight class for his next bout as he was three weight classes above where he is supposed to be. The Mariachi music was a great diversion but could not mask the fact De Leon fought in the wrong division for the fight against the last minute substitute to go off, which against a different opponent, could have proved a risk not worth taking. In any case, the De Leon corner must have had good information on Herrera before the bout, because De Leon did not look overweight or look like he ate a good meal before the bout, and he was not too worried about the outcome.
Undercard Bout Results, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
David Alaverdian TKO 2 Jino Tonte , Super Flyweights (1:15)
6-0 Alaverdian, Nahariya, Israel, not fooled by 9-10 Hungarian journeyman Tonte, a loser of his last seven consecutive bouts outside of Hungary. Tonte offered no offense. Alaverdian obliged by decking Tonte with a right hook, then landed two left hooks to the body of Tonte which slumped Tonte on the ropes, out of it, and ended the contest. A mismatch.
Joshua James Pagan KO 1 Calvin Glover, Lightweights (1:36)
0-5 welterweight journeyman Glover made weight, but did not make a good accounting of himself. Glover began the bout by trashing talking Pagan, who landed a left hook to the solar plexus Glover. Glover slumped over, his mouthpiece came out, and got counted out. Unfortunately for Glover, words do not fight back, only offense does, and he had none.
Timor Kerefov KO 2 Cleotis “Mookie” Pendarvis, Middleweights (2:02)
13-0 middleweight prospect Kerefov, Miami Florida by way of Nalchik, Russian Federation, boxed patiently against Pendarvis. In the second round, either a punch to the face or a thumb dropped Pendarvis, 21-10-2 with nine knockouts, Lancaster, California, who took the ten count. Pendarvis appeared overweight versus his better boxing years some time ago, and lost his sixth straight bout, making him a worthy candidate for retirement by ABC Boxing.
Brandon Moore Win 8 Curtis Harper, Heavyweights
Scoring: 80-72. 80-72, 79-72 for Moore.
In the opening bout on the card, a bloody Brandon Moore, now 12-0 with seven knockouts, Lakeland, Florida, bleeding from a cut over the left eye from an accidental head butt in the second round, still outpointed faded Curtis Harper, 13-8 with nine knockouts, Jacksonville, Florida. Moore appeared taller and had superior reach, but Harper was more experienced, weighed more, and had more power to go with his weight. Harper spent most of the bout trying to throw a right hand lead, then leaning in with his head to do more damage to Moore’s cut with blatantly intentional butting attempts. Moore’s corner needed a few rounds to get the bleeding situation under control. The bout could have been declared a no contest, but referee Frank Garza let the bout run, and Moore fought through the blood.
Harper lost a point for hitting off the break. After an even first round, Moore appeared to win every round, with Harper in survival mode only. Harper, who once went the distance with dangerous world title challenger Chris Arreola, swung wild enough on occasion to remain troublesome if he got lucky, and Moore remaining out of distance range, took no chances. This was the only bout on the Salita Promotions card to go the distance. The message for rising prospects was clear. Have a world class cut man in your corner at all times, because you never know what is going to happen at any time against any opponent. An ordinary opening bout on a boxing card turned into some scary moments, when a bout which should have been turned into a no contest due to an accidental head butt was not.
However, referee Frank Garza, one of the best in the business, consulted more than once with the ringside doctor. Garza correctly evaluated Moore’s ability, and surmised Moore could see well enough, and box well enough, to safely win the bout on points despite the blood. Referee’s privilege. Moore won 80-71 on the Real Combat Media scorecard, winning every round, matching the scorecard of the judge sitting immediately next to this reporter at ringside in every round. Good call by referee Garza.
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