By Alexey Sukachev
Former WBA interim middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov continued his recent winning streak with an impressive first-round TKO of hapless Hungarian journeyman Zoltan Papp (14-4-1, 10 KOs).
Papp, 38, was down twice, the last time for the count after a major left hook to the liver. Time of stoppage was 2:35, and the bout was held at the super middleweight limit.
Chudinov, 30, is now 20-1-2, with 13 KOs, and rides a six-fight winning streak since his twelfth-round TKO loss to Chris Eubank Jr. in February 2015. He is rated #7 by the WBA and #12 by the IBF at the middleweight limit.
Chudinov has a goal of securing a grudge match with amateur rival James DeGale, who currently holds the IBF super middleweight world title. They fought twice in the amateurs and Chudinov claims he beat him once and the second outcome was a controversial defeat.
In his last fight, which took place last month at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, DeGale fought to a controversial twelve round draw with WBC world champion Badou Jack. DeGale was down in the final round, was badly hurt and suffered several injuries during the contest.
"With James DeGale I have a personal score, I aim to get even from my amateur career. I beat him. We had two fights with him. The result of one of them was controversial. I am really in favor of fighting James DeGale, it would be interesting to fight," Chudinov said to Igor Lazorin. "I am 30 years old.... we aim to win the European title and then fight for the world title."
Also on the same show, another super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin (3-0, 2 KOs) got a stoppage win in three over another Hungarian Attila Koros (13-9-1, 9 KOs). The event was promoted by Umar Kremlev of the Patriot promotional group and was held at the Dynamo Arena in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russia.
