Alexander Povetkin vs. Manuel Charr & Rakhim Chakhkiev vs. Santander Silgado RBR

All things considered, while Silgado is a respectable under-the-radar cruiser, with him being so unprepared Chakhkiev really ought not to have taken so long to get into this...but he is finding his groove now and may get rid of Silgado in an inspiring and statement-making fashion before all is said and done.

If we get a big juicy KO, his max grade for this performance will be a B+. If he labors to a decision with the rounds getting "samey" the rest of the way, more like a C-.

 

Round 6

Chakhkiev is harrying Silgado across the ring, ducking the left jab, shooting his left cross up at the chin and just missing or depositing it right into the waiting pocket of Silgado's quickly positioned & opened right glove. Big left crosses slung up from the hip by Chakhkiev, getting a piece of Silgado's face even as he whirls to slip and waves his arms to interfere.

10-9 Chakhkiev

58-56 Chakhkiev

 

They did open scoring (per WBC standard) after the 4th.

Chakhkiev led 39-37 x2, one drawn card.

Given how clear the 5th and 6th were for him, we can safely assume he is well ahead on his way to a unanimous decision should it get that far.

 

Round 7

Chakhkiev is sticking with the same gear and the same tact, flicking backhanded right jabs at Silgado's face and varying the heavy left cross to waistline and chin by turns. Silgado keeps dancing away, not ever letting Chakhkiev touch him too cleanly. The crowd whistles, hoots and chants in attempts to fire Chakhkiev up, but he is committed to just cruising and bullying Silgado on work rate and the smattering of body grazes without ever forcing a standstill fight or entirely cutting the ring off.

10-9 Chakhkiev

68-65 Chakhkiev

 

Round 8

Chakhkiev is raising his right jab up, nudging Silgado's hovering left glove aside, looking for a place to drill in with his left but never pulling trigger. Chakhkiev is bobbing and taking fake steps inside, attempting to confuse Silgado. High right jab caught on the gloves, disguising a sneaky reverse left uppercut (palm facing down, like an extreme backhand) from the hip grazing the jaw of Silgado.

10-9 Chakhkiev

78-74 Chakhkiev

 

Stats through eight:

Jabs
Silgado 42 of 119, 35%
Chakhkiev 15 of 81, 19%

Power
Silgado 37 of 63, 59%
Chakhkiev 38 of 85, 45%

Total
Silgado 79 of 182, 43%
Chakhkiev 53 of 166, 32%

 

WBC open scoring announced through eight:

in Russian, but the crowd loved it...so presumably Chakhkiev way ahead.

(watch this space, a native speaker may have put the scores on Twitter...)

edit: here we go

77-76, 77-75, 78-74 all for RC.

 

Round 9

Chakhkiev is swinging his right arm wide from side to side by his thighs, lulling Silgado and then darting in with heavy 1-2s forcing Silgado to scramble in retreat. Huge overhand left by Chakhkiev diving in atop Silgado as he beaches himself on the ropes. Silgado is countering with light jabs and separating his guard to load up a right uppercut while dipping back into the ropes when Chakhkiev pounds him on the lip with a right jab and buries a left downstairs.

10-9 Chakhkiev

88-83 Chakhkiev

 

Stats in the ninth:

Jabs
Silgado 2 of 17, 12%
Chakhkiev 2 of 9, 22%

Power
Silgado 7 of 14, 50%
Chakhkiev 15 of 24, 63%