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Artur Beterbiev Destroys Ezequiel Maderna! – Bring on Sergey Kovalev…

ArturBy Dave “Madcap” Mroczek

There’s a new force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division. In this main event held at the Bell Centre in Montreal last night, Artur Beterbiev squared off against Argentinian super middleweight Ezequiel Maderna. Beterbiev is an exciting and aggressive young fighter, having recorded nine spectacular wins before this night, and has looked like a vicious attack artist in every one. He was coming off a year long layoff due to a shoulder injury and looking to resume his ascent to the top of the light heavyweight division.

The fight began slowly, with Beterbiev showing a jab and not much else in the early going. After a long layoff he was hesitant to rush in early. Showing some good movement, a sturdy jab, and the occasional body shot, the fight would continue along these lines into the third. Maderna did not show anything to trouble Beterbiev in the fight other that the odd stiff punch. Artur remained patient, and starting in the third round began to put the pressure on. Maderna began to get trapped against the ropes, and Beterbiev went to work landing his punishing hooks. In the third he began to get home with some snapping shots, and knocked Maderna to the canvas late in the round twice. Ezequiel would make it to the fourth, but that would be all he could muster as Beterbiev clobbered him to the canvas twice more before Maderna’s corner threw in the towel.

While nobody really expected Maderna to give Beterbiev much trouble, Artur looked every bit the top prospect he is rated as. He showed a bit of a step up in skill in this fight. Normally an aggressive brawler who walks his man down, which has caused him to taste the canvas in previous bouts, he showed a new patience and awareness in the ring which will only help him in his quest for light heavyweight dominance. Beterbiev is incredibly heavy handed, as well as quick and tough, and now adding crafty to that resume. While he could have apparently finished the much sooner, he remained pensive, moved well, used his jab, and took his chances as they developed instead of forcing the issue. He is an accomplished amateur, and has an amateur win over Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev to his name. While he only owns ten professional wins at this point, Artur appears ready to make his mark on the top of the light heavyweight division.

While it appears fans may have lost out on an Adonis “Superman” Stevenson Vs Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev super fight, the light heavyweight division is far from boring right now. Artur Beterbiev is a good one, and certainly will factor in to the conversation in the years to come.

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