By Cliff Rold
Largely unknown outside Europe, 34-year old Ukrainian WBO 154-lb. titlist Sergiy Dzinziruk (37-0, 23 KO) of Hamburg, Germany showed why he has been held in high regard by avid fight followers for the last few years at Jr. Middleweight, winning every round on Friday night at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, en route to a tenth round stoppage of a game but sorely overmatched 32-year old Daniel Dawson (34-2, 24 KO) of Perth, Australia.
Dzinziruk weighed in a pound under the division limit at 153 for his first fight in the United States, Dawson coming in spot on the limit.
Dzinziruk, taller by a couple of inches, used his accurate southpaw right jab chopping lead hook to stymie the aggressive Dawson. As the first progressed, and into the second, Dawson increasingly dipped and looked to the body, sweeping from beneath with hopeful lefts aimed at the head. It was to little avail, Dzinziruk controlling him with the jab and easily choosing between countering the rushes and quickly tying up inside.
Dawson rushed forward with a pair of jabs and a hook attempt to start the third but Dzinziruk, standing tall, took a quick step back and went back to dictating the distance with his long right. The left was used economically behind it, connecting the ribs and straight down the pipe when applied.
Round four was a clinic of boxing basics taught by Dzinziruk, Dawson keeping things interesting with some thudding rights between steady strings of leather received. The willing challenger was able to muster some interesting flurries in the fifth and sixth but they meant little in the context of still dominant rounds. Halfway through the bout, Dzinziruk’s U.S. debut had all the drama of a light Sunday sparring session.
By the eighth round, Dawson showing swelling around the eyes, Dzinziruk was backing his man up more often but showed no urgency in pushing for a stoppage. Dawson, to his credit, displayed no quit but also displayed no answers for his more experienced foe.
It was, finally, in round ten that referee Jose Cobian would determine he had seen enough. Battering Dawson with rights and lefts and taking nothing in return, Dawson was exhausted if not concussed. Backed into the ropes, Cobian stepped in for a humane stoppage at 2:12 of round ten.
It was Dzinziruk’s sixth successful title defense in a WBO reign begun in 2005 with a decision over Daniel Santos but also his only start since November 2008. Dzinziruk was a 1996 Olympian for the Ukraine and a Silver Medalist at the 1997 World Amateur Championships. At 34, he’ll hope for big fights sooner than later.
In the televised opener, 22-year old undefeated Welterweight Vernon Paris (21-0, 13 KO), 146 ½, of Detroit, Michigan, got all he could handle from 25-year old upstart Juan Santiago (12-4-1, 7 KO), 146 ½, of Denver, Colorado, ultimately leaving with a split decision win. The quick Paris struggled with the fearless aggression of Santiago, losing a point in the first for a low blow even as he appeared the more accurate puncher in the round. Accuracy was telling on the outcome even as Paris, who had missed the originally intended weight for the contest, appeared to flag in much of the second half. A strong closing frame sealed the win for Paris who advanced to the winners circle with matching scores of 76-75 with the third judge scoring 77-74 for Santiago. The referee was David Mendoza.
The broadcast was carried in the U.S. on premium cable outlet Showtime as part of its ShoBox series, promoted by Gary Shaw Promotions and Banner Promotions.
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
