Top ten-ranked heavyweight contender Vyachaslav “Czar” Glazkov, 18-0-1-(17), was lucky to escape with a controversial majority decision over the upset minded Derric Rossy, 29-9-0-(14). Rossy got off to a rousing start, using his movement and boxing skills to cofound the flatfooted Glazkov. Glazkov finally got into the fight in round four as Rossy began showing fatigue. The middle rounds saw tremendous two-way action, with both men getting in their fare share of punches. A desperate Glazkov staged a dramatic rally down the stretch and came very close to stopping Rossy in the final round. The final scores left something to de desired, as one judge scored the fight 95-95 with the other two judges scoring the bout 96-94 and a ridiculous 98-92.
Fast rising heavyweight prospect Joseph Parker, 12-0-0-(9), of New Zealand, scored a third round technical knockout over Keith Thompson, 7-3-0-(4). Parker, just 22-years old, used a probing jab, consistent bodywork and solid hand speed to gradually break the will of the rugged Thompson. Parker ended things in the third round when a jab followed by perfectly executed right uppercut sent Thompson crashing to the mat. A follow up barrage ended things just moments later. Parker is a prospect to keep your eyes on.
Undefeated Russian light heavyweight Vasily Lepikhin, 16-0-0-(9), exposed the highly ranked Robert Berridge, 24-1-2-(20), scoring an utterly one-sided fifth round KO. Berridge, a self-proclaimed knockout artist, was pushed back by the taller Lepikhin from the get go. Lepikhin broke the fight wide open when he scored a knockdown with a blistering right hand at the end of round two. Berridge survived the next two rounds before suffering two knockdowns in the fifth round.
