We have a final: Gassiev beats Dorticos to face Usyk in Jeddah
Russia’s Murat Gassiev dropped Yunier Dorticos three times in the 12th round and dramatically stopped the previously unbeaten Cuban with just eight seconds remaining of a highly entertaining Ali Trophy semi-final at Bolshoy Ice Dome in Sochi, Russia.
Fans everywhere have been treated to a quite sensational tournament of top class boxing with the still ongoing but soon to be settled World Boxing Super Series; both the 168 and 200 pound tournaments thrilling millions. Having thus far gone without a hitch (not to tempt fate at this late stage in both tourneys) we have seen great fights, great presentation, great professionalism and we have had great value for money.
Last night, during a backstage meeting before the less than thrilling (failed to live up to the hype, pre-fight was of words) cruiserweight showdown between Lawrence Okolie and Isaac Chamberlain (won by Okolie via lopsided decision) Dereck Chisora and David Haye met up. The subject was a possible fight between “Del Boy” and unbeaten 2016 Olympic silver medal winner Joe Joyce.
WBO super middleweight champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (37-0, 25 KOs) used his big size advantage over the smaller, weaker little known fighter Habib Ahmed (22-1, 17 KOs) in stopping him in the 6th round on on Saturday night in a dreadful mismatch on ESPN at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. This was not a good fight.
Tonight in Russia, in the second semifinal of the WBSS cruiserweight tournament, Russian hero and defending IBF champ Murat Gassiev added the WBA crown to his name as he sensationally stopped Cuba’s Yunier Dorticos in the 12th and final round of an incredible battle.
Having hurt Dorticos with a huge left hook that sent the Cuban down on his back, Gassiev blasted away with his bombs, scoring a further two knockdowns, the final one forcing referee Eddie Claudio to halt the fight. Time was 2:52 of the very last round.
IBF World super flyweight champion Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy’ Ancajas (29-1-1, 20 KOs) dominated an over-matched fringe contender Israel Gonzalez (21-2, 8 KOs) in stopping him in the 10th round on Saturday night on ESPN at the Bank of America Center, in Corpus Christi.
The upcoming May 5 rematch between middleweight giants Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez could take place in New York, at the historic Madison Square Garden. Although Las Vegas, scene of course of the first fight back in September, remains the frontrunner to host the anticipated rematch, Madison Square Garden is being strongly considered.
There are a couple of names being bandied around as possible comeback foes for Manny Pacquiao, who is not done yet with boxing even though he will turn 40 before the year is out. Now that we can forget (for the time being) about a Pacquiao challenge of current P-4-P king Vasyl Lomachenko, two other names appear to have more of a realistic shot at getting in there with Pac-Man this spring: Mike Alvarado and Lucas Matthysse.