Comments Thread For: Wlodarczyk Shows True Grit in Winning Chakhkiev Thriller

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Rakhim Chakhkiev, one of the latest Russian Olympic gold medalists (captured the first place at heavyweight during the 2008 Beijing Olympics), put up a huge, willing effort on Friday at Dynamo Palace of Sports in Krylatskoye, Moscow, Russian - only to see his tough challenge being reversed by the defending WBC cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in a thrilling collision with a come-from-behind eighth-round TKO.

Chakhkiev (16-0, 12 KOs), 30, has come in with good credentials, higher ranks (WBC #2, IBF #5, WBA #10 and WBO #11) and being totally untested against the elite opposition. The Pole, a year his older, was much more experienced at the championship level, making the fifth defense of the green belt, he won in 2010 against Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni. With 47-2-1, 33 KOs, Wlodarczyk has a colossal advantage in experience but some see him on a downslide after long lay-offs and some controversy and adversity during his present championship reign. [Click Here To Read More]

[gingerbreadman]

Christ, not difficult to tell who this guy was supporting.

[the_blueprint]

just watched this fight, good come back from wlodarczyk. chakhiev looks like a lesser version of tyson. entertaining to watch but i think lack of experience definitely lost this fight for him.

[The Hammer]

Props to the Polish ring warrior Krzysztof Wlodarczyk for an amazing comeback!

Most of us thought he was going to get stopped after taking a lot of punches in the early rounds, but he showed great heart and determination to come back and win impressively.

[hyeduk]

Alexey, just like Kostya didnt tell Lebedev to preserve more energy...shouldve mentioned that too in your article about Lebedev's defeat......Remember, Tyson has been told million times to save energy for the late rounds, but...Grigorian did a tremendous job with Chakhkiev, even commentators have noticed that....The goal was to win this fight in a fashion manner, but Polak had a granite chin...Btw Grigorian claims that he did tell him but Rakhim simply grantstanded

[lutenco]

Cruiserweights are giving us great fights,only americans don't understand and like this tough division!!!

[Regeza]

Rahkim went balls against the wall and had no plan b.

[The Hammer]

Here's Dan Rafael's summary of the fight:

(from espn.com/boxing)

Krzysztof Wlodarczyk TKO8 Rakhim Chakhkiev
Retains a cruiserweight title
Records: Wlodarczyk (48-2-1, 34 KOs); Chakhkiev (16-1, 12 KOs)

Rafael's remarks: This was a dramatic fight as Wlodarczyk, 31, of Poland, got knocked down, was getting beaten up and trailing on all three scorecards through seven rounds (66-63, 66-64, 66-64) before rallying for four knockdowns in the knockout victory on the road in a brutal, man's-man kind of fight.

Wlodarczyk is putting together a very nice résumé when you look at this victory, a road defense in Australia against Danny Green in 2011, two wins against previously undefeated Francisco Palacios and a win against veteran contender Giacobbe Fragomeni to claim the vacant belt in 2010. He was making his fifth title defense when he faced Chakhkiev, 30, the 2008 Russian Olympic heavyweight gold medalist who is built like a tank. This was a grueling fight, the kind that takes years off a fighter's career. The aggressive Chakhkiev was dominant early. Late in the third round, he nailed Wlodarczyk with left hand and a cuffing right around the side of the head that dropped him to his knees. Wlodarczyk, whose right eye was cut and whose face was showing major damage, was rocked again with a right hand in the last few seconds of the round.

Wlodarczyk was hanging in there and broke through in the sixth round when he dropped Chakhkiev to his knees with a solid left hook just before the end of the round. Wlodarczyk scored a second knockdown late in the seventh round, scoring with a left hand during an exchange. Chakhkiev, bleeding from the nose, did not seem too hurt this time and popped up immediately. But in the toe-to-toe eighth round, Wlodarczyk caught him with a right hand during an exchange, dropping Chakhkiev to a knee midway through the round. He barely beat the count and moments later walked into a left hand and went down again, face first, prompting referee Daniel Van de Wiele to call off the fight without counting at 2 minutes, 3 seconds. Wlodarczyk, with blood streaming down his mashed up face, held up his arm in victory. What a helluva fight.

[The Big Dunn]

this fight will be on MSG in the NY area this week and I will check it out.