I'm not picking Botvinniks for the upset I just think it's a unnecessarily risky fight to take after such a long layoff and only having fought a six rounder against a bum since returning. He hasn't been in a real fight since he fought Beterbiev. If he's still the same as he was before the layoff or even close he'll stop him but if he's really rusty or has diminished it could be a tough nights work for him. This content is protected
Fingers crossed, what I saw of him against Obando, he looked fairly sharp. You could tell he was easing his way back into it, but by the end in the highlights, he was comfortable and back to his old self. Although if he isn't 100% there mentally, Bolotniks may tax his ass, at least for a few rounds. This content is protected
Yeah he looks pretty good there. I was concerned about him not getting that guy out of there given how he's been stopped a whole bunch of times and none of the fighters who did so are close to Gvozdyk's level. However, obviously he needed and wanted the rounds so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it. Botvinniks will be in excellent shape for this fight though as he's been training to face Richards for a long time and he's a pretty skillful customer in addition to being tough, game and hitting harder than his record suggests. The fact that's he's Buatsi's best or second best win in 16 fights and Gvozdyk is taking him on in his first real fight in 3.5 years tells a story as well.
Yeah I saw that last week. He barely left 1st gear against a lower tier but tough and actually pretty big opponent. But not because of any contempt of the level of opponent. He was like a Dad bringing out the Corvette for a drive for the first time in a year or two. And he just feathers the accelerator and drives like miss daisy for the first few km's.
I wonder why the nail came back. Dude couldn’t stop a bum journeymen in his return. Maybe he wanted rounds, but seems like he’s a shell of his former self. Is he looking for another title shot or is he in it for the money? I’d pick Callum Smith to brutally stop him at this point of his career.
He was Canelos main sparring partner for two camps, he will be in good shape and strong. Only age will beat him and Beterbiev
Facts.. my Ukrainian boy doesn’t **** with Gvozdyk, said he didn’t have a firm stance on Ukraine vs Russia.
