Emmanuel got a lot of heat for sticking with and choosing Wlad as his next prized pupil. In the end though he was right and they were wrong.
MTK Global has signed Kazakh Super-Heavyweight Kamshybek Kunkabayev. In the press release they don't actually mention if he's turning pro. They talk about him representing his country in the Olympics next year, I guess he will turn over after that. Kunkabayev is a technically sound southpaw, but at 6'3'' he's not the biggest guy in the world. He‘s also turning 29 in a few months, so they'll have to move him up quick. In the amateurs he won two silver medals at world championships and has wins over the likes of Tony Yoka, Bakhodir Jalolov and Maxim Babanin among others. https://mtkglobal.com/new-signing/mtk-global-sign-kazakh-star-kunkabayev/
Cassius Chaney's scheduled to face Chauncey Welliver on August 28. I could only imagine the size Welliver these days haha.
I'd say Kunkabayev is a grade B type of prospect. Well schooled, but not really that big, fast or strong. Stopped 3 times as an amateur. Maybe he can get to top 30 status at box rec, not much beyond that. Fellow Kazakh Ivan Dychko, who's professional career is stuck in neutral is the better prospect. Kunkabayev beat Yoka when he was 19 years old and lost the series to Jalolov, who has a world of potential.
Wasn't sure that was officially off yet. Damn that sucks. Kuzmins heart isn't all in it anyways. Most guys with true drive would have fought regardless(albeit different circumstances due to Covid - if his dad is in a really bad way flying around and possibly being stuck somewhere wouldn't be good) but Kuzmin already seems to have one foot out the door either that or he fully lapses into journeyman mode. a hungry Kuzmin would beat Bakole I'm convinced. Although Kuzmin has a different kind of hunger so he'd probably fall short against the less talented Bakole.