Artur Beterbiev Breaks Down Oleksandr Gvozdyk In 10th Round TKO Win in Philly

IBF Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev too rough and rugged for WBC champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk in Philadelphia in ESPN main event 

PHILADELPHIA (Oct 19) — Undefeated Light Heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev withstood Oleksandr Gvozdyk’s outside attack early on, and gradually closed the distance to impose his will on the Ukrainian to drop him three times in the 10th round, to win by stoppage, on ESPN at Temple University’s Liacouras Center.

Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) opened the first round operating safely behind his jab, and assuming the lead by landing the more effective shots until Beterbiev (15-0, 15 KOs) was credited with a knockdown that occurred coming out of a clinch. The knockdown was reversed after a review that occurred between the rounds.

Throughout the remainder of the fight’s first quarter Gvozdyk controlled the action from the outside with Beterbiev having his brightest moments inside. Beterbiev connected with an overhand right in the second, and began mixing in bod work along with forearms. Gvozdyk connected with a combination in the first minute of the fourth round, highlighted with a big right hand.

Beterbiev connected with solid right hands to Gvozdyk’s body in both the fifth and sixth rounds. Gvozdyk responded with big shots to Beterbiev’s head. Gvozdyk hit the canvas again at the close of the sixth, but referee Gary Rosato quickly determined it wasn’t a knockdown.

Beterbiev landed the better shots in the seventh, but Gvozdyk managed to return fire in a competitive manner. In the eighth both men exchanged a pair of powerful right hands.

Beterbiev turned up the pressure in the ninth as his physicality and volume began to take its toll on Gvozdyk. The Russian finally closed the distance and started to land punishment on the lineal champion.

In the 10th round Beterbiev looked like the livelier fighter, and his pressure finally drove Gvozdyk to a knee before the final minute. Around the :40 mark Gvozdyk went down again. The action continued after Rosato warned Gvozdyk that his time was limited, and moments later Beterbiev’s onslaught produced a third knockdown at 2:49. The 34-year old had his hand raised and took possession of the WBC title to go along with his IBF belt with victory and knockout No. 15 in as many fights.

Beterbiev’s reliance on his power punching ultimately sealed the victory, but he was trailing on two of the three judges’ cards at the time of the stoppage. However, assuredly he sensed Gvozdyk’s resolve fading with each round.

“We work in the gym We work hard, and we have some targets,” Beterbiev said. “My first target, second target and other one comes soon.

“It doesn’t matter {who I fight next.} Anyone. I’m focused on title, not on name.”

Former Welterweight champion Luis Collazo pressured Kudratillo Abdukakhorov immediately to open their 10-round bout, forcing the Uzbekistan native to stay on the move and fight off his back foot. Collazo’s pressure was more effective in the second round but he finished the frame with a cut over the corner of his left eye.

Abdukakhorov (17-0, 9 KOs) gradually adjusted to the forward-marching Collazo (39-8, 20 KOs) and began catching the 39-year old New Yorker at a higher rate, as he elected to press forward with his hands lowered. At the same time, Collazo began repeatedly shaking his left hand, hinting that he was experiencing some discomfort.

In the tenth round an unintentional collision of heads at the 2:03 mark resulted in a severe cut above Collazo’s right eye – it nearly ran the length of his eye brow. Collazo struggled to get to his feet while squinting badly because of the flow of blood, which consequently forced the ringside Dr. to immediately inform the referee the fight was over.

The end result of the contest was a TKO victory for Abdukakhorov with the scorecards announced which stood at 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92 at the time of the stoppage.

Also in action:

Sonny Conto (5-0, 4 KOs) vs Steven Lyons (5-6, 2 KOs)

Conto took apart Lyons’ confidence working nicely off of his snapping jab while mixing in some good power shots to the body. Following the one-sided first round, Lyons retired on the stool opting to not come out for the second round.

Joseph Adorno (14-0, 12 KOs) vs Damian Alejandro Sosa (9-3, 7 KOs)

The elder Adorno brother made short work of Sosa, scoring a pair of knockdowns including a vicious left hook for the first one that seemed to do the job itself. A short right hook to the top of Sosa’s forward-leaning head nearly sent Sosa through the ropes, and consequently referee Shawn Clark waved off the bout.

Julian Rodriguez (18-0, 12 KOs) vs Leonardo Doronio (17-17-3, 11 KOs)

After a punishing 5 1/2 rounds filled with a free-flowing variety of powerful combinations, Rodriguez finished off a durable Doronio with a single sweeping left hook in the sixth round at 2:29. The TKO became Rodriguez’ 12th victory by stoppage.

Jeremy Adorno (3-0, 1 KO) vs Misael Reyes (1-3) – Super Bantamweight

Adorno dropped Reyes in the second round behind a left hook to the body, right hook to the head combination. Reyes punched Adorno in the back of the head in the third round, stopping the action momentarily while Adorno recovered. Adorno controlled the action to capture his third victory by unanimous decision with cards of 38-37, 40-35 and 40-35.

Josue Vargas (15-1, 9 KOs) vs Johnny Rodriguez (9-5-1, 6 KOs)

Vargas with a sharp, dominant performance as broke down the veteran Rodriguez to sweep all three cards by the wide margin of 80-72. Vargas took a shot at the stoppage in the seventh round with his most prolonged attack inside, but Rodriguez withstood the attack.

Featured image by Mikey Williams/Top Rank