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Saturday, June 29, 2019

Kaminsky Wins by Decision

Southpaw David Kaminsky defeated Osbaldo Gonzales at the Pechango Resort and Casino in Temecula, California last night. Kaminsky won every round to earn a unanimous decision victory.

The 18 year old Kaminsky came out throwing hard shots from the opening bell. Gonzales seemed overwhelmed and kept his gloves at home until the second round. He held a lot. Kaminsky a California resident who came in at 162 pounds for the fight, landed a lot of left leads to the head and right hooks and straight lefts to the body. In the third round, Gonzalez's nose started bleeding. A hard left pushed him back and he was tough to stay on his feet and last the distance.

Kaminsky loaded up with every shots aiming for a knockout that never came. He only jabbed sparingly and almost never threw combinations. He head-hunted from the outset and only went to the body regularly later in the contest. But he thoroughly dominated the fight.

All three judges scored the fight 40-36. Kaminsky is now 5-0 with two KOs. Gonzales is not 6-5 with four KOs. He has only been stopped once.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Chilemba to face Vlasov in Rematch

Light heavyweight Isaac Chilemba is scheduled to face Maksim Vlasov on July 20 at the Korston Club in Moscow, Russia. The bout is a rematch of a memorable 2011 affair.

On February 24, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma Chilemba was knocked down twice in the eighth round thanks to a couple of shots from Vlasov's right hand. Chilemba recovered and ultimately won a close unanimous decision: 96-92 on two cards, 95-94 on the third.

Since the loss to Chilemba, the first of his career, Vlasov has fought as heavy as 201 pounds and as light as 165. He's weighed in over 188 pounds in 12 of his last 13 fights. The 32 year old  Russian has a 43-3 record with 26 KOs.

In 2015, Vlasov lost to Gilberto Ramirez, who has since become one of the best super middleweights in the world before he moved up to light heavyweight for his last fight. Last November, Vlasov lost in the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series to Krzysztof Glowacki, who was involved in an incredibly bizarre fight with Mairis Briedis  last week. Unlike Chilemba, both Ramirez and Glowacki are southpaws.

After the win over Vlasov, Chilemba fought Tony Bellew twice in 2013. Controversial judging in Bellew's home country left Chilemba with a 0-1-1 record in those bouts. In recent years, Chilemba has been a gatekeeper of sorts in the light heavyweight division. The 32 year old has lost four out of his last five fights, but all of his losses have been to the elite at 175.

In 2015, Chilemba lost a disputed decision to Eleider Alvarez near the latter's adopted hometown of Montreal, Canada. The following year Chilemba lost a decision to Sergey Kovalev in Russia.  At the time, only Chilemba and Bernard Hopkins had maanged to go more than eight rounds with the Krusher.

Four months after the Kovalev fight, Chilemba broke his hand against the current lineal light heavyweight champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk, which forced the fight to conclude following the eighth round. After decisioning Blake Caparello last year, Chilemba lost on points to Dmitry Bivol. Artur Beterbiev is the only top five light heavyweight Chilemba hasn't fought and it isn't for lack of trying. Chilemba has taken to Twitter i nthe past to coax the power punching Beterbiev into the ring.

Isaac (25-6-2, 10 KOs) is a slick boxer who is defensively responsible.He has a good jab, but more often than not, prefers to pot-shot. Vlasov has a good right hand. Against Glowacki, he fought in spurts. Chilemba has also experienced offensive lulls within recent fights. Whereas the fight eight years ago featured fireworks, this time around it might be more of a strategic battle.

The rematch is scheduled for twelve rounds.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Seldin Stops Judah

Cletus Seldin defeated Zab Judah by technical knockout in the eleventh round of their bout at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. Seldin was busier the entire fight and pounded the veteran ex-champion.

Judah couldn't let his hands go all night due to a combination of Seldin's relentless pressure and Zab's 41 years. The 22-year pro had enough guile to avoid getting hit cleanly too often, but he took a beating nonetheless. He came in an impressive 138.3 pounds- same as Seldin- for the junior welterweight clash, but the ring doesn't lie. Judah doesn't have it anymore.

Seldin spent a significant portion of the fight as a southpaw, a new wrinkle in his game. Judah landed some lead lefts early in the fight and had a strong eighth by landing right hooks and uppercuts. Seldin wobbled Judah at the end of the third with a straight right. Two rights hurt Judah in the fifth. He went to the body effectively in every round. In the eleventh, Judah was gassed, and Cletus continued to press forward. Seldin landed several clean rights when referee Charlie Fitch jumped in to stop the fight.

Seldin improves his record to 24-1 and earned his twentieth KO. Judah falls to 44-10 with 30 KOs. This was the fourth time he's been stopped. Seldin joins the likes of Kostya Tszyu, Miguel Cotto, and Amir Khan in halting Super Judah.