By James Slater – On the big show at Madison Square Garden at the weekend, heavyweight terror Magomed Abdusalamov kept his prefect record, as was “extended” into the 4th-round by the previously unbeaten Jason Pettaway. Scoring a quite brutal 4th-round TKO (that could have been stopped far sooner than it was had the ref been 100-percent on the ball), “Mago” improved to 14-0(14)..
Previously only taken past the opening round on three occasions, the Oxnard-based Russian soon had 31-year-old Pettaway of West Virginia, now 11-1(8) in a bloodied state. Only Pettaway’s courage kept him in the fight; the action one-sided from the 2nd session on.
30-year-old Abdusalamov isn’t the prettiest fighter to watch, and his defence sometimes lets him down. Critics have also pointed to the Russian’s clumsiness and claim that this will be his undoing when he faces an elite heavyweight. However, it cannot be denied how Magomed has real power in either fist, nor can it be denied that he is a whole lot of fun to watch. Naturally aggressive and always craving the KO he has so far achieved each time out, the prospect/contender is good enough for his team at Sampson Boxing to have taken chances with him: Pettaway was, after all, an unbeaten and largely unknown and therefore possibly dangerous fighter.
Another good thing about the oft-crude yet always brutal southpaw is the fact that he is being kept very busy. Abdusalamov has now had two fights this year and is already thirsty for more action (“I’d fight every two or three weeks if I could,” Mago told ESB last year). But will the latest “beast from the east” get the fights he and his team want? There have already been suggestions from Sampson Boxing that certain name fighters want nothing to do with their latest find.
This, of course, is what happens when a heavyweight terror emerges on the scene. Again, his critics say that the first time Abdusalamov gets in there with a proven, classy boxer (say an Eddie Chambers or even a Kevin Johnson), he will be outboxed, taught a lesson and exposed. To this, though, Magomed says “bring ’em on!”
For as long as he’s fighting – whilst he remains an unbeaten, streaking heavyweight hungry for success especially – “Mago” will be a genuinely fun fighter to watch. He may have his faults, but some fans, those of the heavyweight division in particular, will take power and excitement over technique and dullness every time. Abdusalamov provides both.