By James Slater: Tonight, in Dotensk in The Ukraine, two promising prospects made short work of their opponents, as local men Stas Kashtanov and Vyacheslav Senchenko scored first and second round stoppages, respectively.
First up, at welterweight, in a bout that contested Senchenko’s WBA Intercontinental title, the 30 year old champion saw off the challenge of Britain’s Stuart Elwell in just two rounds. It was always going to be a big ask for the southpaw from Walsall in the U.K, and though he gave it a go, the 30 year old challenger was quickly despatched by the taller man. Senchenko, who at age 30 may seem a little old to be considered a prospect, came out boxing cautiously in the opener, but soon stepped up the pace in round number two.
A hard right hand to the head wobbled the 11-1(1) Elwell, and as Senchenko followed this punch up by going downstairs to the body Elwell was sent to the mat. Up at eight, the visiting fighter was under heavy pressure along the ropes and just as he was going down for a second time the French referee simultaneously dived in to call a halt to the proceedings. The action was short-lived, but the fans saw enough of the now 26-0(19) Senchenko to get an idea of how good he might be. Fast and accurate, the WBA Intercontinental belt holder could well be a fighter to keep an eye on in the future.
In the co-main event, another Ukrainian up and comer also had an easy night. The unbeaten Stas Kashtanov, the 23 year old WBC youth champion at super-middleweight, boxed the also undefeated Jolison Morais De Silva of Brazil. Kashtanov had an even quicker evening than did Senchenko – winning in the very first round. The Brazilian, also aged 23 and with a 9-0(7) record coming in, was much the smaller man and it showed almost immediately. A right/left combination upstairs caught the novice-like De Silva, and he was down and out. Writhing around on the canvas as referee Daniel Van der Wiele tolled the count, it was clear De Silva’s challenge was over.
Kashtanov, who made the fifth defence of his WBC youth title, looks to be the real deal. Yet tonight, despite the Brazilian’s flattering record, he really had nothing much in front of him to test him in any way. With his win Kashtinov improved to 22-0(13).