The burly Bulgarian 29-year-old southpaw finally made his pro debut this month, against former contener Owen "WTH" Beck. Granted, Beck was past his best and a well-used 35 and had been on an awful run (with six of his nine career losses heading in having been all clumped together in 2010 and 2011, and all by stoppage) but he's still not someone you'd expect to see someone go in with as a total noob. As an amateur, Rozhnov beat the likes of European heavyweight champ Sasha Dimitrenko and undefeated Polish power punching prospect Mariusz Wach. Current WBA heavyweight champion Sasha Povetkin alone holds the distinction of having bested him twice, once in the Athens Olympics in 2004. No shame in those losses, and it's said he really pushed Povetkin to the limit. Obviously all this top-shelf experience and his physical attributes made him dangerous for the floundering Beck, and some might say that being held to a four round decision is even a disappointing result despite the relatively audacious choice for a starter. See and decide for yourself. The quality here is atrocious and each rounds is incomplete, but at least you can get a vague impression. [yt]wGKqF6EBykA[/yt] [yt]Fz-F49EXIs8[/yt] [yt]8pyd5k5w34g[/yt] [yt]id8IuFQwjm4[/yt] In evidence here are awesome physical strength (rag-dolling Beck at times and hardly getting budged when pushed in return), an intuitive feel for movement showing he knows his way around the ring, a pretty sweet right hook, and more responsible defense than you often see in a debutant. Of course, there is plenty he didn't do right as is to be expected. He probably let Beck off the hook many times by opening his attacks into a wide slapping pattern, and allowing himself to be clinched, or settling into just one or two lazily telegraphed straight left harpoons to the body at a time when Beck danced away. Overall, there is plenty of upside in the rough. It's very early yet to say how he'll stack up against the likes of his countryman (and fellow amateur standout/late entry to pay-for-play) Kubrat Pulev. In all likelihood he's a name we'll be hearing a lot more of at the very least.
Damn that commentator is great, he should apply for HBO. So watched the video (not fully skimmed a bit), he seems pretty good. Nice movement, seems to have some speed. What worries me the most is that he's 29 and just turned pro, unless he stays very busy he might not even get the big fight in his prime.
Seems to have some physical and pychological problems, though. Admitted something along the lines of the fact that he doesn't really like boxing and feels all of the amatuer bouts in his age. Kind of seems like he is going to be another Bogdan Dinu. Hope I am wrong.
