Radivoje Kalajdzic outpoints Craig Richards over 10 rounds in London

LONDON – Radivoje “Hot Rod” Kalajdzic defeated Craig Richards by unanimous decision after a cracking scrap at London’s Copper Box Arena.

It was the standout bout when promotional outfit Zuffa Boxing announced the card earlier this year and the contest lived up to expectations. Kalajdzic, fresh from a February thriller with Oleksandr Gvozdyk in which he stopped the former WBC light-heavyweight titleholder inside seven rounds, was again involved in an entertaining back-and-forth battle.

Kalajdzic, 35, may not have had to climb off the canvas this time, but his chin and heart were tested on multiple occasions by the gritty Richards. The Londoner, 20-5-1 (13 KOs), was ultimately outclassed but refused to wilt under the American’s power, even climbing from the canvas in the dying seconds to finish the fight on his feet.

All three judges scored the contest 97-92 for Kalajdzic after an entertaining 10 rounds.

Kalajdzic, now 31-3 (22 KOs), looked relaxed and in control from the opening bell, bouncing on his toes before opening up on Richards.

Perhaps the worst thing Richards did was land three consecutive right hands midway through the third. The punches appeared to wake up Kalajdzic, who quickly set about returning the favor.

In the following round, Kalajdzic landed a right hand to the body before following with a left hook to the head that sent Richards’ legs into a spin. The Londoner appeared in danger of being finished, but did well to survive the round.

Richards then enjoyed a spell of success of his own, landing a chopping right hand that shook Kalajdzic to his boots. Kalajdzic nodded in acknowledgement but wasted little time before getting straight back to work.

The momentum soon swung back towards the American, who landed the punch of the fight – a right hand that sent Richards tumbling into the ropes. “Hot Rod” poured on the pressure, but Richards cleverly clung to his opponent’s right arm for dear life. Again, Richards survived and even managed to land a crisp right hand of his own before the bell.

Richards continued to fight fire with fire, but he could not match the power or variety of Kalajdzic’s work. By the final round, the Londoner looked spent, his face marked up and both eyes bruised.

Richards did manage to hurt Kalajdzic with a body shot early in the 10th, forcing the American onto the back foot. Kalajdzic recovered, however, and landed a right hand that sent Richards tumbling to the canvas in a heap.

Roared on by his home support, Richards climbed back to his feet and heard the final bell before Kalajdzic had the opportunity to launch another attack.

It was a brilliant contest.

Earlier, Lee Cutler picked up a unanimous decision victory over Louis Greene, 19-5 (12 KOs), in a 10-round middleweight contest.

The fight had all the ingredients of a barnburner but never quite caught fire. Apart from a scare in the third round, when Cutler was wobbled by a hard right hand, the 30-year-old dealt with the aggressive Greene, 34, with relative ease.

Cutler’s jab and combination punching proved decisive, and the Bournemouth fighter, now 17-2 (8 KOs), took the victory by scores of 98-92 and 97-93 twice.