Dmitry Kudryashov: record, next fight and profile →
WBC/IBF #13 ranked cruiserweight Dmitry “The Russian Hammer” Kudryashov (16-0, 16 KOs), fresh of his sensational first-round knockout of ex-WBC titlist Juan Carlos Gomez last Friday night, will fight next on March 28 within the same show with world 200lb titlists Denis Lebedev and Grigory Drozd.
WBO #2 super featherweight Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 KOs) continued his road to an occasional title shot with a dominating unanimous decision over Mexican champion Gabino Cota (16-3-1, 14 KOs). Cota was no match to sharp but light-punching Klimov, who almost stopped the rugged Mexican in rounds six and eight. However, the Russian still lacks one finishing touch to get the job done.
Former junior welterweight titleholder Ruslan Provodnikov made weight for his bout Friday night in Moscow against Jose Luis Castillo, coming in at 146.6 pounds while Castillo, the highly faded former lightweight champ, came in at 146.2. Provodnikov is coming off a split decision loss to Chris Algieri in June, a defeat that left him without the belt he had won at 140 pounds over Mike Alvarado last year. Castillo has pickd up two wins since dropping a decision to Antwone Smith in early 2013.
Former junior welterweight titleholder Ruslan Provodnikov made weight for his bout Friday night in Moscow against Jose Luis Castillo, coming in at 146.6 pounds while Castillo, the highly faded former lightweight champ, came in at 146.2. Provodnikov is coming off a split decision loss to Chris Algieri in June, a defeat that left him without the belt he had won at 140 pounds over Mike Alvarado last year. Castillo has pickd up two wins since dropping a decision to Antwone Smith in early 2013.
Cruiserweight puncher Dmitry Kudryashov (15-0, 15KOs) is going to take a serious step up in competition on November 28th in Moscow, when he faces former cruiserweight world champion Juan Carlos Gomez (55-3, 40 KOs). This will be the first fight for the Eastern Euro boxer since signing a contract with powerful Russian promoter Andrei Ryabiński. Gomez is very experienced and faced many fighters at cruiserweight and heavyweight, including a high profile fight with Vitali Klitschko in 2009.
In just a year Andrey Ryabinskiy’s “World of Boxing” - a Moscow-based promotional company - has quickly become a force to be reckoned with in prizefighting but specifically in its cruiserweight section. Through assistance of WBA champion Denis Lebedev (26-2, 20 KOs) and recently crowned WBC titlist Grigory Drozd (39-1, 27 KOs), World of Boxing controls half of the 200lb landscape. Its continental power is being supported by the third gem in the mixture – 2008 Beijing heavyweight gold medalist and European champion Rakhim Chakhkiev (20-1, 15 KOs).
In a minor upset, undefeated but untested Chechen heavyweight kayo artist Apti Davtaev (8-0-1) was held to a sensational draw by a little-known Croatian Ante Verunitsa (3-1-1, 1 KO). Aggressive and hulking Davtaev had major issues with Verunitsa's upper body movement and his elusiveness. The Croatian answered sporadically but was surprisingly effective doing that. He finished the fight strongly while Davtaev looked to be out of gas. Final scores were: 59-56 (Davtaev), 55-59 (Verunitsa) and 57-57 (a draw). BoxingScene scored the contest 58-56 - for the Chechen boxer.
Hard-punching Russian cruiserweight kayo artist Dmitry Kudryashov (14-0, 14 KOs) is looking forward to continue his knockout streak on October 18 in Rostov-na-Donu, Russia. IBF #13 and WBC #14 Kudryashov is set for a ten-rounder against capable Romanian veteran Guilian Ilie (20-7-2, 6 KOs), who was stopped just once in his career.
While the focus of local boxing community is firmly set on two Moscow shows, which will take place on May 30 (Povetkin vs. Charr plus Rakhim Chakhkiev) and on June 1 (Nielsen vs. Chudinov), there’s still something to watch in Russia aside from those in the coming weeks.
In another mismatch, super featherweight Natalia Smirnova (8-0, 5 KOs) easily stopped 41-year old Ghanaian Yarkor Chavez Annan (7-7-1, 3 KOs). Smirnova jumped right on Annan and punched here relentlessly until Annan was put between the ropes after another combination of Smirnova. She struggled to get up as the bout was stopped at 01:52 of the round. Annan has lost her seventh straight. Smirnova acquired vacant WBU, WIBA and UBO 130lb titles with this victory.