Alexander Zolkin: The HW that started it all...

DREAMCATCHER · 12-04-2012, 08:07 AM

Zolkin was the first Russian and Soviet boxer to turn pro in the USA. A pioneer in that regard. Somewhat of a precursor to fighters like K2, Povetkin, Pulev, Chakiev, Ibragimov, Maskaev, Golota etc (East European fighters of great stature with good boxing skills). This guy paved the way for them!

A tall southpaw who had over 200 amateur fights when he defected at some point before 1990 and turned pro that year. He won his first 14 fights before running into Tony Tubbs, who handled him his first pro loss in what some thought was a controversial decision, in 1993. He avenged that loss later as well as the one to Mike Hunter (on SD). Along the way, he beat some contenders like Art Tucker, Frankie Swindell, Carl Williams, James Tillis and John McClain. In 1995 he tkoed Rocky Pepeli in 3 rounds to earn the NABF belt. He defended it against former Holyfield-challenger Bert Cooper by TKO 9. He made the second one against Tubbs, in the aforementioned revenge. In 1996 he got the shot at the WBO title against titleholder, the Nigerian-born 6'7 Henry Akinwande who was 30-0-1.

In a brave fight, Zolkin was down once in the fourth round and suffered an inch-long cut on his right eyelid in the sixth, that would take 25 stitches to close. Still he managed to keep his composure and gave Akinwande a tough fight until the doctor stopped it at the end of the 10th round. Disappointed by the loss and angered at what he thought was a premature stoppage, Zolkin quit boxing. He returned in 1999 and went 4-0-1, his last fight being a draw against Cuban hope Elieser Castillo in January 2000. After that he retired for good.

Zolkin was known for his ability to take a lot of punishment and his main assets were his fast jab, his size and reach and good boxing skills. On the downside, he is considered as not much of a finisher and not a big puncher either. However, with 19 of his 28 wins coming by way of stoppage, he couldn't have been a featherfist either. He was slated to face Riddick Bowe but was replaced with Golota, who was seen as a better draw.

Good fighter. Every K2 fan should know the name of Zolkin:

http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/0/0f/Zolkin.Alexander.jpg

Vysotsky · 12-04-2012, 08:18 AM

It's Zolkin and everything you wrote is a copy/paste job from a poster in the Classic lounge, i remember reading that exact post from a thread a while ago. The least you could do is quote them and give the person credit for their info.

Now fuck off.

SimplyTheBest · 12-04-2012, 09:44 AM

It's Zolkin you idiot noob. I followed him back in the day.

DREAMCATCHER · 12-04-2012, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vysotsky

It's Zolkin and everything you wrote is a copy/paste job from a poster in the Classic lounge, i remember reading that exact post from a thread a while ago. The least you could do is quote them and give the person credit for their info.

Now fuck off.

Bit harsh....

Calm down Igor. No need to get your panties in a bunch! What is wrong with spreading the info?

SimplyTheBest · 12-04-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DREAMCATCHER

Bit harsh....

Calm down Igor. No need to get your panties in a bunch! What is wrong with spreading the info?

Nothing is wrong with it, just give credit where it's due instead of trying to pass the thoughts off as your own.

12-04-2012, 08:07 AM	#1
DREAMCATCHER Visionary! ESB Full Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 335 vCash: 500	Alexander Zolkin: The HW that started it all... Zolkin was the first Russian and Soviet boxer to turn pro in the USA. A pioneer in that regard. Somewhat of a precursor to fighters like K2, Povetkin, Pulev, Chakiev, Ibragimov, Maskaev, Golota etc (East European fighters of great stature with good boxing skills). This guy paved the way for them! A tall southpaw who had over 200 amateur fights when he defected at some point before 1990 and turned pro that year. He won his first 14 fights before running into Tony Tubbs, who handled him his first pro loss in what some thought was a controversial decision, in 1993. He avenged that loss later as well as the one to Mike Hunter (on SD). Along the way, he beat some contenders like Art Tucker, Frankie Swindell, Carl Williams, James Tillis and John McClain. In 1995 he tkoed Rocky Pepeli in 3 rounds to earn the NABF belt. He defended it against former Holyfield-challenger Bert Cooper by TKO 9. He made the second one against Tubbs, in the aforementioned revenge. In 1996 he got the shot at the WBO title against titleholder, the Nigerian-born 6'7 Henry Akinwande who was 30-0-1. In a brave fight, Zolkin was down once in the fourth round and suffered an inch-long cut on his right eyelid in the sixth, that would take 25 stitches to close. Still he managed to keep his composure and gave Akinwande a tough fight until the doctor stopped it at the end of the 10th round. Disappointed by the loss and angered at what he thought was a premature stoppage, Zolkin quit boxing. He returned in 1999 and went 4-0-1, his last fight being a draw against Cuban hope Elieser Castillo in January 2000. After that he retired for good. Zolkin was known for his ability to take a lot of punishment and his main assets were his fast jab, his size and reach and good boxing skills. On the downside, he is considered as not much of a finisher and not a big puncher either. However, with 19 of his 28 wins coming by way of stoppage, he couldn't have been a featherfist either. He was slated to face Riddick Bowe but was replaced with Golota, who was seen as a better draw. Good fighter. Every K2 fan should know the name of Zolkin: http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/0/0f/Zolkin.Alexander.jpg Last edited by DREAMCATCHER; 12-04-2012 at 10:10 AM.
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12-04-2012, 08:18 AM	#2
Vysotsky Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 7,592 vCash: 1000	Re: Alexander Zolskin: The HW that started it all... It's Zolkin and everything you wrote is a copy/paste job from a poster in the Classic lounge, i remember reading that exact post from a thread a while ago. The least you could do is quote them and give the person credit for their info. Now fuck off.
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12-04-2012, 09:44 AM	#3
SimplyTheBest Heavyweight Destroyer ESB Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Europe Posts: 2,674 vCash: 0	Re: Alexander Zolskin: The HW that started it all... It's Zolkin you idiot noob. I followed him back in the day.
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