By Alexeuy Sukachev
Moscow, Russia - One thing is for sure every time Eduard Troyanovsky is involved into the fight - it won't last for long. This time around, it was exactly the case for his WBA light welterweight title eliminator against WBA #3 Paraguayan Carlos Manuel Portillo.
The Russian banger won as he always does - with a spectacular kayo - just 133 seconds into the fight.
It was almost a year removed from another first-round knockout - suffered that time by Troyanovski, who was blitzed in 40 seconds by Julius Indongo and saw his IBF and IBO belts taken to Namibia.
Portillo (21-1, 16 KOs), who flew well below the radar until his latest journey to Australia for an upset win over Czar Amonsot, showed some skills early on and even tagged the Russian with a solid right hand - each time a danger for the extremely hard punching but seemingly soft-chinned Troya.
Portillo felt some not-needed confidence, came in wide-open and ate a hellacious right hook, which put him down and out for a count. WBA #4 and IBF #5 Troyanovskiy is now 27-1, 24 KOs.
In one of the best fights of 2017, undefeated sluggers Arnold Khegai and Valery Tretyakov wrecked havoc to produce a thriller, which won't be soon forgotten by anyone who saw it if ever. In a fight reminiscent of Julio Cesar Chavez vs.Meldrick Taylor drama, Khegai knocked Tretyakov out cold with two seconds left in the tenth and final round.
Featherweight Tretyakov showing a heart of the champion gets down to 11-1, 4 KOs. Khegai is now 12-0-1, 8 KOs.
Welterweight prospect Sergey Lubkovich (7-0, 6 KOs) made another step up in his education, stopping veteran Ukrainian Victor Plotnikov (34-5, 16 KOs) in eight rounds.
Young gun Lubkovich dominated the first several rounds but Plitnkov survived by constant movement and sudden counters. The midst was lazy with Lubkovich trying to generate thrill but being unable to do that against defensive-minded opponent. However, Lubkovich cut the Ukrainian over a right eye in the eighth forcing Plotnikov to retire during the subsequent break.