By Francisco Salazar

It is funny how a spectacular knockout brings about attention to a fighter. And rightfully so.

Heavyweight Donovan Dennis scored a spectacular, one-punch knockout over Razvan Cojanu on April 10th. It was even number one on the “Sportscenter: Top 10” list.

 

While it was great exposure for boxing and the once-beaten heavyweight, Dennis believes he is more than just a fighter with knockout power. He hopes to display his pedigree as a boxer, along with becoming a legit heavyweight contender.

 

He will have that opportunity tonight when he fights Andrey Fedesov in the final of the Boxcino Heavyweight tournament at the Omega Products International in Corona, Calif. The bout, along with the Boxcino junior middleweight final between Brandon Adams and John Thompson, will air live on ESPN2 at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.

 

Tonight’s ‘Friday Night Fights’ telecast will conclude a 17-year run on ESPN2.

 

Fight fans enjoy a great knockout and Dennis (12-1, 10 KOs) has provided those throughout his pro career. While the knockout win over Cojanu was great, Dennis has remained as level-headed about it, especially knowing he has to defeat Fedesov tonight in the final.

 

“A lot more people have noticed me and have come up to me after the knockout,” Dennis told krikya360.com over the phone earlier this week. “People notice me now, but I’m still the same level-headed guy now as opposed to last year or before that. I still have to work hard and do my job in the ring.”

 

“I know people may think I knock out people, but I’m a boxer-puncher. I do throw a lot of punches for a heavyweight. I move around the ring a lot for a heavyweight. I’m fast for a heavyweight as well.”

 

Dennis does have a lot of pedigree, especially as an amateur who eventually turned pro in March of 2012. He was an 11-time amateur champion in his home state of Iowa, losing to Lenroy Thomas in the 2011 National Golden Gloves finals.

 

Despite losing in the Olympic trials in 2012, Dennis believed he was still destined to accomplish numerous goals, which includes fighting on television and eventually entering and winning the Boxcino tournament.

 

He faces the most experienced fighter in the tournament in Fedesov. With 30 fights on his ledger, Fedesov could rely on his experience to outclass Dennis. Despite Fedesov having almost three times as many fights, Dennis is confident he will have his hand raised.

 

“I haven’t seen him fight (even though they have fought on the same Boxcino cards),” said Dennis, who has recently sparred the likes of Chris Arreola in Big Bear Lake, Calif. “People have told me he comes forward and that he is strong. I expect that from him I plan on boxing him all 10 rounds, turning him all 10 rounds. If the knockout comes, it comes. But I’m planning to outbox him for 10 rounds.”

 

Dennis is from Davenport, Iowa, where there has been a dry spell of legit talent. In recent years, Michael Nunn and Antwon Echols have brought legitimacy to the state.

 

While a lot of other fighters from Iowa may belong to the ‘Midwest circuit,’ Dennis takes that all in and enjoys proving people wrong regarding the stereotype of fighters from that state.

 

“I’ve had a chip on my shoulder from back in my amateur days. When people fight me, they believe that it will be an easy fight because I’m from Iowa. My advantage is that here in Iowa, there is nothing to. All I do is train. Either you’re in trouble or you find yourself in the jail. I occupy my time in the gym.”

There is no denying Dennis wants to prove he can hang with the best in the division. While he has his work cut out from, he has a lot of confidence, which does go a long way in the sport.

Having put on gloves since he was 14 and inspired by James Toney’s win over Vassily Jirov in 2003, Dennis believes he is destined for great things in the sport.

A win tonight over Fedesov and winning the Boxcino tournament is a start.

“I’m making noise in the heavyweight division. After this fight, people will say that I’m a fighter to be taken seriously. I work hard and I dedicate myself to this sport.”

 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for krikya360.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing