Grigory Drozd: record, next fight and profile →
The Renaissance Hotel, not far from the “Dynamo” Ice Palace in Khodynka, Moscow, Russia, was a point of frenetic power, cloaked in nervousness and hardly hidden anticipation, as key figures for the Saturday major Russian vs. Poland doubleheader addressed some words to media in attendance.
On September 27 in Moscow, WBC cruiserweight champion and TBRB #3 rated 200lber Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KOs) will be tested tough once again – as was often the case over the course of his present WBC reign as one of the elite cruiserweights – and this time he faces the WBO/WBC #4 and TBRB #7 Russian Grigory Drozd (38-1, 27 KOs). Wlodarczyk, who will try to defend his regalia for the seventh time, is trained by Fiodor Lapin, a native of Arkhangelsk, Russia. Lapin revealed some details on Krzysztof’s next bout in a talk with ITAR-TASS.
On Wednesday, WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk was made aware that the upcoming WBA 200-pound title fight between Denis Lebedev and Pawel Kolodziej which takes place on the same September 27th card as his much anticipated title defense against Grigory Drozd, will see both fighters undergo stringent anti-doping tests by RUSADA. The 32-year old Polish-born champion, who makes his seventh title defense when he meets Drozd, had a message he was keen to pass on.
Apparently WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KOs) is looking for a bigger purse for a planned defense of the title against Grigory Drozd (38-1, 27 KOs) on September 27th in Moscow. According to reports in Poland, the champion has yet to agree to the financial terms and wants a bump in his purse, which the other side is not willing to satisfy. There is some fear that Wlodarczyk will withdraw from the match. The co-feature of the card will have another Polish/Russian battle, with undefeated Pawel Kolodziej (33-0, 18 KOs) challenging WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (25-2, 19 KOs).
A pair of cruiserweight title fights are set to share the spotlight on September 27 in Moscow, in a night that pits Poland versus Russia in both ends of the co-main events. Long-reigning cruiserweight titlist Krzystof Wlodarczyk of Poland makes his first appearance of 2014 as he will face Russia's Grigory Drozd in what will mark his seventh title defense. In the co-main event, Denis Lebedev makes his debut under the World of Boxing promotional banner as he faces unbeaten Pawel Kolodziej. World of Boxing confirmed in a statement that "contacts are signed for fights (between) Krzystof Wlodarczyk and Grigory Drozd, and Denis Lebedev (versus) Pawel Kolodziej. Russian boxers battle with the Poles on September 27 in Moscow."
The negotiations appeared to be off, but now the discussions are more serious than ever and both sides are reportedly close to a deal. The cruiserweight champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Pole Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35KOs), is close to reaching agreement to defend his title against dangerous Russian puncher Grigory Drozd (38-1, 27KOs) on September 27th in Moscow.
WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KOs) rejected an offer from Andrey Ryabinskiy’s “World of Boxing” to defend his title against red hot European champion Grigoriy Drozd (38-1, 27 KOs) due to financial reasons. This news was confirmed by Wlodarczyk’s Polish promoter Andrzej Wasilewski to Russian media agency ITAR-TASS.
It looks like European cruiserweight champion Grigory Drozd (38-1, 27 KOs) will finally get his second title chance this fall against reigning WBC king Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (49-2-1, 35 KOs) of Poland. The fight will most probably land in Moscow, Russia.
Light heavyweight gun Sergey Ekimov (9-0, 3 KOs) eked out a workmanlike unanimous decision over eight against tough Welsh journeyman Nathan King (13-22, 1 KO). The fight was quite even but Ekimov was slightly better in every round. Boxingscene had it 78-74 - for the Russian.
The final press conference took place for the big card, being staged by Andrey Ryabinsky's World of Boxing from the Dynamo Palace of Sports in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia. In the main event, EBU cruiserweight champion Grigory Drozd (37-1, 26KOs) will face Jeremy Ouanna (14-3, 8KOs). In the co-feature, Olympic gold medal winner Rakhim Chakhkiev (17-1, 13KOs) will face Juho Haapoja (20-4-1, 13KOs) for the vacant WBC Silver cruiserweight title. Also, cruiserweight Maxim Maslov (12-1-1, 8KOs) goes against Anar Mammadov.