Artur Szpilka vs. Sergei Oleksandrovych Radchenko & Paweł Stępień vs. Geard Ajetovic RBR

This move down to CW honestly was a smart move, no matter what happens. It was his last best chance to salvage his career, as he clearly wasn't doing a damn thing at heavy anymore. It happened to not work out (at least it seems to be heading that way, if this disastrous upset plays out in Radchenko's favor), but at least he decided to shoot his shot, can't fault that.

 

Radchenko mauling Szpilka, getting hit with some right jabs and left uppercuts on the way in but hardly even blinking at most of them. Szpilka getting roughed up, forced to run, bend over at the waist, and tie up by turns.

10-9 Radchenko

39-36 Radchenko

 

Radchenko hurts Szpilka with a left hook a minute into the fifth. Szpila unable to find any blow with enough oomph to get and keep the respect of Radchenko. Szpilka hurt now by a shoveling right on the inside while attempting to strafe by the Ukrainian on twinkle-toes. Szpilka just discovering over and over that he is simply not as slick as he seems to believe. Szpilka pawing with jabs and ducking below the waist as Radchenko leaps on him, swatting down with both fists. Messy, staccato action. Radchenko every now and then will explode with a slingshot 1-2 and hurt Szpilka. VERY BADLY HURT! Szpilka is staggering along the ropes, back sagging into them, until he flops onto the canvas. Saved by the bell.

10-8 Radchenko

49-44 Radchenko

 

Not lasting another full half.

 

That chin is SO BAD. How exactly did he reach the ninth against the "baddest man on the planet" again?

 

Szpilka having spells of success where he uses the quick right jab in multiples and rapid shuffling lateral movement to smoothly outbox Radchenko from a distance - but all Radchenko needs to do is time him with a single pinball-launcher right and Szpilka's legs turn into jelly and he's scrambling for cover, having to spoil and clear the cobwebs for half a minute before he can resume normal motor functions again.

10-9 Radchenko

59-53 Radchenko

 

Even jabs and partially blocked shots have Szpilka looking as if he's seeing cartoon birdies.

Meanwhile his punches don't look as if they even tickle Radchenko.

 

Radchenko has a real potent weapon against Szpilka with that right down the pipe. Cliché to call it the southpaw killer, and truer in some contexts than others - but damned if that isn't Szpilka's kryptonite here. The only prayer the Pin has is Radchenko injuring his own right hand, maybe shattering the knuckle bones on Artur's skull.

Even then, we're in very deep water and Radchenko has LOADS of points banked.. and I'm not sure that Szpilka would even be able to KO a 1-handed Rad.

 

Szpilka landed a big desperation right hook in the waning moments of the seventh that seemed to stun Radchenko slightly, but not even close to enough to steal the round back. Still a slow and steady mugging courtesy of Radchenko, who maintains a crocodilian style of predatory lurking, biding his time, and then suddenly exploding from the murky depths with power.

69-62 Radchenko