On Saturday night at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oleskandr ‘The Nail’ Gvozdyk will be making the maiden defence of his WBC World light heavyweight title against unheralded French challenger Doudou Ngumbu.
Nevertheless, Ngumbu is someone who has only been stopped once in eight losses, and Gvozdyk will be surely be looking to go through the motions to inflict the Frenchman with his second knockout defeat to make a successful first defence of his belt in style, to maintain momentum after sensationally dethroning five-year reigning champion Adonis Stevenson in December.
On away soil, Gvozdyk expertly navigated through the treacherous early rounds to unleash a brutal series of unanswered punches in the penultimate round against Stevenson, to join ex-Olympian counterparts Oleskandr Usyk and Lomachenko, who were seated ringside cheering him on, as World champions.
Gvozdyk showcased impressive skills, composure and movement throughout the fight, and was consistently able to connect with right hands on the ageing albeit dominant former champion, who sustained life-changing injuries in the immediate aftermath and was initially rushed to hospital in critical condition; although it is important to note that thankfully Stevenson’s condition has since stabilised.
Now, operating under the guidance of the respected Teddy Atlas, Gvozdyk is surely aware of the possibilities that await him should he dispatch of Ngumbu as expected. Namely, a potential unification with WBO World champion Sergey Kovalev or a lucrative showdown with Top-Rank’s undefeated WBO World super middleweight champion Gilberto Ramirez; someone who has repeatedly expressed a desire to move up and make boxing history by becoming Mexico’s first light-heavyweight World champion.
As the chief support, undefeated contender Egidijus ‘Mean Machine’ Kavaliauskas is up against seasoned welterweight Ray Robinson; someone who fell short in a bout with former world title challenger Yordenis Ugas last year.
The powerful Lithuanian has been tipped by Bob Arum as a potential opponent for Terence Crawford, and Kavaliauskas will no doubt be keen to display his heavy-hands once again to extend his record to 22-0 and justify his promoter’s ambitions.
Article by: Navi Singh
Follow Navi on Twitter at: @DarkMan________