Tag: Shohjahon Ergashev

Weekend Review: David Benavidez’s destructive power was on full, breathtaking display

Weekend Review: David Benavidez’s destructive power was on full display in his sixth-round knockout of Demetrius Andrade on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
David Benavidez

David Benavidez has said repeatedly that he has hurt everyone he has faced in the ring. He’s right. He might not knock out all of his opponents – Caleb Plant survived 12 rounds with him, for example – but he’s going to stalk you, he’s going to punish you and, it seems, he’s going to have his hand raised after the fact. That inevitability was on display in its most brutal form on Saturday in Las Vegas, where “The Mexican Monster” walked down, dropped and relentlessly pummeled fellow 168-pound contender Demetrius Andrade until Andrade’s corner stopped the fight after six rounds to save him from a worse fate. Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) never looked more destructive. Afterward he once again called out the king of the division, undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez. Is there anyone who doesn’t believe Benavidez deserves that fight? Is there anyone who doesn’t want to see it? Let’s hope Alvarez sees it that way and finally agrees to face his biggest threat at 168 pounds.

 

BIGGESET LOSER
Demetrius Andrade

Demetrius Andrade (right) took a brutal beating over six rounds. David Becker / Getty Images

We shouldn’t draw firm conclusions from Andrade’s performance in the first meaningful test of his 15-year career. Benavidez didn’t beat him solely because he was the bigger man, as Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) suggested multiple times after the fight. The winner obviously knows what he’s doing. But Benavidez’s physical advantage certainly played a role in his victory over an opponent who started his career as a 154-pounder and was fighting at 168 for only the second time. Andrade looked good for a while, outlanding Benavidez and consistently circling away from trouble before he hit the canvas and quickly deteriorated beginning in Round 4. The Andrade of the first few rounds could give anyone trouble, which is a positive sign for him. He asserted afterward that he’s far from finished at 35. He said he’ll go back to the gym, continue to grow into the division and ponder his next move. “I’ll work on my body a little more,” he said, “and I’ll be right back at it.” He will.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Katie Taylor

What more can she accomplish? Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) was at a crossroads after she lost a decision against then-140-pound champ Chantelle Cameron in May. Many wondered whether the Irishwoman’s time had passed. It hadn’t. The 37-year-old former Olympic champion gave one of her best performances in the rematch with Cameron on Saturday in Dublin, outboxing a naturally bigger opponent to win a majority decision (that should’ve been unanimous) and become an undisputed champion in a second division simultaneously in another entertaining fight. Cameron gave a spirited effort but Taylor consistently beat her to the punch, landing quick, accurate combinations and then clinching to avoid return fire. She was brilliant. The word legend is sometimes thrown around carelessly but that is the type of legacy Taylor has built. If she’s not the greatest female boxer of all time, she certainly is in the conversation.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Subriel Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) gave a David Benavidez-like statement on the Benavidez-Andrade card. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican survived some tough early moments to destroy fellow slugger Shohjahon Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) after five rounds to retain his 140-pound title and bolster his reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous punchers. He has forced his last five opponents to retire on their stools, although Ergashev complained of a leg injury. Matias appears to be in the class of the best fighters around his weight, including his fellow beltholders and the top 135-pounders. He’ll have to face one of them for us to know for sure, though. … Middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) made a successful return after a 2½-year hiatus to focus on his mental health, easily outpointing durable, but overmatched Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-3-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the Benavidez-Andrade show. Rust? I didn’t see any. He boxed beautifully, using his superb jab and quick, heavy combinations to dominate the fight. Benavidez was able to survive only because of his unusual durability. Now Charlo can focus on bigger challenges. He could still be in the Alvarez sweepstakes and there are a number of good options at 160. Charlo is back. …

Hector Luis Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs) might be a one-year wonder. The 130-pounder from the Dominican Republic made a splash by outpointing Chris Colbert and Roger Gutierrez last year, positioning himself as a potential star. But he has fallen flat this year, getting stopped by Gervonta Davis at 135 in January and losing a split decision and his title to Lamont Roach on the Benavidez-Andrade card. Garcia took a big swing and missed against Davis. OK. His performance against Roach was less defendable, as he wasn’t active enough to overcome a beatable opponent. It will be difficult for him to rebuild after the back-to-back setbacks. Meanwhile, Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) did what it took to become a major titleholder. The well-schooled boxer from the Washington, D.C. area didn’t do much either but he took the fight to Garcia and landed the cleaner punches. Roach obviously is a capable fighter. …

Nevada officials had a bad night. A mistake by referee Tony Weeks cost Garcia his belt. Weeks missed the fact that Roach put Garcia down in the 12th round with a punch that landed behind the head, which is illegal. The result would’ve been a draw had Roach won the round 10-9, which would’ve allowed Garcia to retain his title. Why didn’t officials go to instant replay? If it’s not used for such calls, why not? A bad ruling should’ve been reversed. … In the Matias-Ergashev fight, Ergashev kept his extended lead arm in Matias’ face to keep Matis at a distance favorable to Ergashev. That’s also illegal. Referee Celestino Ruiz should’ve prevented Ergashev from doing that. … And in the Charlo-Benavidez fight, Charlo had a chance to score a knockout late in the final round when referee Harvey Dock more or less tackled Charlo to untangle the fighters. Had Dock let the fighters do their work, Charlo might’ve gotten his stoppage.

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Weekend Review: David Benavidez’s destructive power was on full, breathtaking display

Weekend Review: David Benavidez’s destructive power was on full display in his sixth-round knockout of Demetrius Andrade on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
David Benavidez

David Benavidez has said repeatedly that he has hurt everyone he has faced in the ring. He’s right. He might not knock out all of his opponents – Caleb Plant survived 12 rounds with him, for example – but he’s going to stalk you, he’s going to punish you and, it seems, he’s going to have his hand raised after the fact. That inevitability was on display in its most brutal form on Saturday in Las Vegas, where “The Mexican Monster” walked down, dropped and relentlessly pummeled fellow 168-pound contender Demetrius Andrade until Andrade’s corner stopped the fight after six rounds to save him from a worse fate. Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) never looked more destructive. Afterward he once again called out the king of the division, undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez. Is there anyone who doesn’t believe Benavidez deserves that fight? Is there anyone who doesn’t want to see it? Let’s hope Alvarez sees it that way and finally agrees to face his biggest threat at 168 pounds.

 

BIGGESET LOSER
Demetrius Andrade

Demetrius Andrade (right) took a brutal beating over six rounds. David Becker / Getty Images

We shouldn’t draw firm conclusions from Andrade’s performance in the first meaningful test of his 15-year career. Benavidez didn’t beat him solely because he was the bigger man, as Andrade (32-1, 19 KOs) suggested multiple times after the fight. The winner obviously knows what he’s doing. But Benavidez’s physical advantage certainly played a role in his victory over an opponent who started his career as a 154-pounder and was fighting at 168 for only the second time. Andrade looked good for a while, outlanding Benavidez and consistently circling away from trouble before he hit the canvas and quickly deteriorated beginning in Round 4. The Andrade of the first few rounds could give anyone trouble, which is a positive sign for him. He asserted afterward that he’s far from finished at 35. He said he’ll go back to the gym, continue to grow into the division and ponder his next move. “I’ll work on my body a little more,” he said, “and I’ll be right back at it.” He will.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Katie Taylor

What more can she accomplish? Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) was at a crossroads after she lost a decision against then-140-pound champ Chantelle Cameron in May. Many wondered whether the Irishwoman’s time had passed. It hadn’t. The 37-year-old former Olympic champion gave one of her best performances in the rematch with Cameron on Saturday in Dublin, outboxing a naturally bigger opponent to win a majority decision (that should’ve been unanimous) and become an undisputed champion in a second division simultaneously in another entertaining fight. Cameron gave a spirited effort but Taylor consistently beat her to the punch, landing quick, accurate combinations and then clinching to avoid return fire. She was brilliant. The word legend is sometimes thrown around carelessly but that is the type of legacy Taylor has built. If she’s not the greatest female boxer of all time, she certainly is in the conversation.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Subriel Matias (20-1, 20 KOs) gave a David Benavidez-like statement on the Benavidez-Andrade card. The 31-year-old Puerto Rican survived some tough early moments to destroy fellow slugger Shohjahon Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) after five rounds to retain his 140-pound title and bolster his reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous punchers. He has forced his last five opponents to retire on their stools, although Ergashev complained of a leg injury. Matias appears to be in the class of the best fighters around his weight, including his fellow beltholders and the top 135-pounders. He’ll have to face one of them for us to know for sure, though. … Middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) made a successful return after a 2½-year hiatus to focus on his mental health, easily outpointing durable, but overmatched Jose Benavidez Jr. (28-3-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the Benavidez-Andrade show. Rust? I didn’t see any. He boxed beautifully, using his superb jab and quick, heavy combinations to dominate the fight. Benavidez was able to survive only because of his unusual durability. Now Charlo can focus on bigger challenges. He could still be in the Alvarez sweepstakes and there are a number of good options at 160. Charlo is back. …

Hector Luis Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs) might be a one-year wonder. The 130-pounder from the Dominican Republic made a splash by outpointing Chris Colbert and Roger Gutierrez last year, positioning himself as a potential star. But he has fallen flat this year, getting stopped by Gervonta Davis at 135 in January and losing a split decision and his title to Lamont Roach on the Benavidez-Andrade card. Garcia took a big swing and missed against Davis. OK. His performance against Roach was less defendable, as he wasn’t active enough to overcome a beatable opponent. It will be difficult for him to rebuild after the back-to-back setbacks. Meanwhile, Roach (24-1-1, 9 KOs) did what it took to become a major titleholder. The well-schooled boxer from the Washington, D.C. area didn’t do much either but he took the fight to Garcia and landed the cleaner punches. Roach obviously is a capable fighter. …

Nevada officials had a bad night. A mistake by referee Tony Weeks cost Garcia his belt. Weeks missed the fact that Roach put Garcia down in the 12th round with a punch that landed behind the head, which is illegal. The result would’ve been a draw had Roach won the round 10-9, which would’ve allowed Garcia to retain his title. Why didn’t officials go to instant replay? If it’s not used for such calls, why not? A bad ruling should’ve been reversed. … In the Matias-Ergashev fight, Ergashev kept his extended lead arm in Matias’ face to keep Matis at a distance favorable to Ergashev. That’s also illegal. Referee Celestino Ruiz should’ve prevented Ergashev from doing that. … And in the Charlo-Benavidez fight, Charlo had a chance to score a knockout late in the final round when referee Harvey Dock more or less tackled Charlo to untangle the fighters. Had Dock let the fighters do their work, Charlo might’ve gotten his stoppage.

[lawrence-related id=39880,39876,39842,39839,39836,39846]

Subriel Matias pounds, stops Shohjahon Ergashev after five rounds

Subriel Matias knocked out Shohjahon Ergashev after five rounds to retain his 140-pound title Saturday in Las Vegas.

Subriel Matias beat the fight out of another opponent.

The 140-pound titleholder from Puerto Rico pounded Shohjahon Ergashev mercilessly until the Uzbek decided to stay on his stool after five rounds on the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) got off to a good start, using his right hand as a range finder and landed many hard, accurate left hands in the first few rounds.

However, by Round 3, an unfazed Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), had worked his way inside and began to overwhelm his opponent with a variety of brutal power punches.

Ergashev tried to fight back in the final few rounds — and clinched in an attempt to slow Matias down — but he didn’t have the tools to keep the Puerto Rican slugger away.

Ergashev didn’t come out of his corner for the start of Round 6, complaining of an injury to his right leg.

Matias has now forced five consecutive to opponents to retire in their corners.

He was making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Jeremias Ponce in five rounds in February.

Ergashev was fighting for a major title for the first time.

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Subriel Matias pounds, stops Shohjahon Ergashev after five rounds

Subriel Matias knocked out Shohjahon Ergashev after five rounds to retain his 140-pound title Saturday in Las Vegas.

Subriel Matias beat the fight out of another opponent.

The 140-pound titleholder from Puerto Rico pounded Shohjahon Ergashev mercilessly until the Uzbek decided to stay on his stool after five rounds on the David Benavidez-Demetrius Andrade card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Ergashev (23-1, 20 KOs) got off to a good start, using his right hand as a range finder and landed many hard, accurate left hands in the first few rounds.

However, by Round 3, an unfazed Matias (20-1, 20 KOs), had worked his way inside and began to overwhelm his opponent with a variety of brutal power punches.

Ergashev tried to fight back in the final few rounds — and clinched in an attempt to slow Matias down — but he didn’t have the tools to keep the Puerto Rican slugger away.

Ergashev didn’t come out of his corner for the start of Round 6, complaining of an injury to his right leg.

Matias has now forced five consecutive to opponents to retire in their corners.

He was making the first defense of the title he won by knocking out Jeremias Ponce in five rounds in February.

Ergashev was fighting for a major title for the first time.

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Video and photos: David Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade make weight

Video and photos: David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade on Friday made weight for their pay-per-view fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Super middleweight contenders David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade on Friday made weight for their pay-per-view fight Saturday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Benavidez weighed 167.0 pounds, 1 below the limit. Andrade came in at 167.6.

In the co-feature, middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo weighed 3.4 pounds over the agreed-upon catch weight of 163 for his fight against Jose Benavidez Jr. but the fight will go on.

The weights for the featured undercard fights on the card are as follows:

  • Charlo (166.4) vs. Benavidez Jr., (161.2) super middleweights.
  • Subriel Matias (139.8) vs. Shohjahon Ergashev (139.8), junior welterweights (for Matias’ IBF junior title).
  • Hector Luis Garcia (129.4) vs. Lamont Roach (129.6), junior lightweights (for Garcia’s WBA title).

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Video and photos: David Benavidez, Demetrius Andrade make weight

Video and photos: David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade on Friday made weight for their pay-per-view fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

Super middleweight contenders David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade on Friday made weight for their pay-per-view fight Saturday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

Benavidez weighed 167.0 pounds, 1 below the limit. Andrade came in at 167.6.

In the co-feature, middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo weighed 3.4 pounds over the agreed-upon catch weight of 163 for his fight against Jose Benavidez Jr. but the fight will go on.

The weights for the featured undercard fights on the card are as follows:

  • Charlo (166.4) vs. Benavidez Jr., (161.2) super middleweights.
  • Subriel Matias (139.8) vs. Shohjahon Ergashev (139.8), junior welterweights (for Matias’ IBF junior title).
  • Hector Luis Garcia (129.4) vs. Lamont Roach (129.6), junior lightweights (for Garcia’s WBA title).

[lawrence-related id=39811,39804,39801,39755,39752]

Vladimir Shishkin wins decision; Shohjahon Ergashev scores first round KO

Russian super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin dominated Ulises Sierra in the main event of a ShoBox card in Sloan, Iowa.

Undefeated Russian super middleweight Vladimir Shishkin turned in 10 workmanlike rounds against Ulises Sierra en route to a unanimous decision win at the WinnaVegas Casino & Resort in Sloan, Iowa (Salita Promotions). 

Two of the judges scored it 99-91, while another had it 100-90, all in favor of 28-year-old Shishkin.

Shishkin (10-0, 6 KOs) worked behind a steady slew of 1-2 punches as he won nearly minute of every round against an otherwise cagey opponent. While Sierra (15-1-2, 9 KOs) was never truly hurt in the fight, he lacked the consistency and, perhaps, even desire to truly make it a competitive fight. Indeed, Sierra, who has served as a sparring partner for the world class likes of Canelo Alvarez, Sergey Kovalev and Andre Ward, seemed content on this night to simply pick up a paycheck.

After a couple of close rounds, Shishkin, who lives in Detroit and trains at the Kronk Gym, began to separate himself from Sierra in Round 3, landing a barrage of right hands to the head and body. Sierra responded by shelling up behind a high guard. That would become a repeated pattern throughout the night.

In Round 5, Sierra landed his best combination in the fight with a left to the body and head that momentarily stalled Shishkin’s momentum. But Sierra eased off the pedal and settled back into his low-energy ways, as Shishkin came back to land several hard rights before the end of the round. From then on, it was all Shishkin, who was effective, if somewhat dull, with his straight right hand leads. He used his jab sparingly and his hook was largely nonexistent. Still, against the listless Sierra, the right hand would prove to be more than enough. 

After the bout, it was reported that Shishkin had injured his left biceps prior to the fight, which may explain his limited offensive repertoire. 

On the undercard, highly regarded Uzbek lightweight Shohjahon Ergashev barely broke a sweat, sending Adrian Estrella to the canvas in Round 1 with a crunching left hand to the right ribcage. Estrella writhed on the floor, grimacing in obvious pain, as referee Paul Perry counted him out.

The official time of stoppage was 1:32

Ergashev, a stablemate of Shishkin, improves to 18-0,16 KOs. Estrella falls to 29-5, 24 KOs.

Also, undefeated junior bantamweight prospect Jarico O’Quinn decisioned Oscar Vasquez in an eight-rounder that was more competitive than what was reflected in the scorecards.

All three judges scored it 79-73 for the Detroit-based O’Quinn.

At the outset, O’Quinn (14-0-1, 8 KOs) got sucked into Vasquez’s preferred fight early on, on the inside. Vasquez (15-3-1, 3 KOs), Las Vegas, had the early momentum, bullying O’Quinn around the ring and landing some surprisingly clean overhand rights.

But O’Quinn began to get on track in Round 3, picking off Vasquez with quick counter while lying on the ropes. Few jabs were thrown by either man. O’Quinn used his superior size and speed to land frequent combination punches, even if they did not seem to visibly hurt the game Vasquez.

O’Quinn briefly flirted with a stoppage in Round 8 when he seemed to stun Vasquez for the first time in the fight with a straight right.

Originally, the fight was meant to be contested at the junior bantamweight limit, but both fighters both came in overweight. 

KO artist Shohjahon Ergashev headlines ShoBox card

Shohjahon Ergashev, the 140-pound contender from Uzbekistan, is scheduled to face Adrian Estrella in a 10-round bout Friday in Sloan, Iowa

Shohjahon Ergashev has passed every test so far. Next up is a tough Mexican.

Ergashev, the left-handed junior welterweight contender from Uzbekistan, is scheduled to face Adrian Estrella in a 10-round bout Friday in Sloan, Iowa, on ShoBox: The New Generation.

Ergashev (17-0, 15 KOs) appears to have unusual tools. He was an accomplished amateur — with a reported record of 202-14 — and the punching power suggested by his professional record. He can outbox you, he can knock you out.

Now all the Detroit-based fighter needs is a test against an elite opponent. Estrella isn’t that foe but he’s capable.

“I would like to fight the best possible opponents,” Ergashev said. “I’m coming to fight not simply to collect money and win the fight. Every time I’m in the ring, I want to destroy my opponent.

“I understand that there might be better boxers in my weight class, but I’m ready to fight them.”

Shohjahon Ergashev is pictued unloading on Zhimin Wang in 2018. Elsa / Getty Images

Ergashev, 28, said he continues to grow as a fighter under the direction of SugarHill Steward, who has started working with Tyson Fury.

“It has been a big difference for me as professional boxer during the last year,” he said. “I started listening. I was not listening before, I was just stepping in the ring and trying to knock my opponent out.

“Sugarhill didn’t allow me to continue sparring because I was not listening. But after my last fight, I started listening.”

He added that the addition of Fury hasn’t been a problem for him.

“That hasn’t affected me,” he said. “It has only helped me. Theotrice Chambers, Richard Phillips and the entire Kronk Gym team have taken over these past few weeks but Sugarhill is here with me now and will be in my corner on Friday night.”

Estrella (29-4, 24 KOs) will be moving back down to 140 pounds after losing a majority decision to Tony Luis at 147 in his most-recent fight. He has lost three of his past four bouts.

“This is a second chance for me,” Estrella said. “I was once 22-0 and now I’m back. I blew past Christmas and New Year’s and am so focused. I have been disciplined. I have done it before and I will get it done on Friday night.”

Vladimir Shishkin (left) faces Ulises Sierra in a scheduled 10-round bout. Dave Mandel / Showtime

In a co-feature featuring unbeaten fighters, super middleweight prospect Vladimir Shishkin (9-0, 6 KOs) faces Ulises Sierra (15-0-2, 9 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout.

Shishkin, a Detroit-based Russian, is coming off an eighth-round knockout of DeAndre Ware in August. He also works with Steward, the nephew of the late Emanuel Steward.

“Working with Sugarhill has been incredible for me,” he said. “I’ve been improving my strength and movement especially. He’s the best trainer I’ve ever had.

“I looked at the American stars … Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr. growing up and they are who I model myself after.”

Sierra, a 30-year-old from San Diego, has built a reputation as a good sparring partner but wants more than that.

“Andre Ward was my first big camp and I’ve sparred with a lot of champions,” he said. “But I’m not a sparring partner. I don’t have that mentality. I figure if I’m going to spar with someone, it might as well be with the best. I’ve been in three Canelo [Alvarez] camps. And I’ve also sparred with David Benavidez.

“I get to see how they train and what they do and what makes them great. Canelo is the best of them. Just his technique and his preparation. He’s always on point and works on everything he’s told to do. They are all great champions.

“This is a great opportunity for me. I never get the calls for shows like this, and I don’t know why that is. This is my chance to shine and could change everything for me.”