Eduard Valentinovich Troyanovsky vs. Josef Zahradník & Batal Zurab Chezhia vs. Dzhamal Usmanov RBR

Zahradník has lost thrice, and only ever to undefeated prospects, and his only knockdown ever suffered was a body shot from Connor Benn in the seventh round.

Glass cannon Troyanovsky is the older man by six years (and turns 40 next May), and is coming off an eleven month layoff since his loss to Kiryl Relikh.

 

At the hands of a Czech no less (the CR is my favorite country I've been to in my life, by far, I always have a soft spot for all things Bohemian, including fighters although they haven't had too many that have been world class)

My dude is going Eagle hunting.

 

Troyanovsky in white, Zahradník black.

 

Round 1

Troyanovsky is circling as Zahradník cautiously sweeps out in semicircular arcs in either direction before stopping on a dime and going the other way. Zahradník leaning his chin outward and covering it with his right glove as Troyanovsky settles into some long range target practice with the 1-2, falling short or hitting the inner wrists of Zahradník with the right but nicking his face with the jab often enough. A few carefully placed counter up-jabs from Zahradník before ducking and pivoting along his way, mindful not to stand directly in the path of Troyanovsky's long straight punches. Double jab on the mouth and clubbing right behind the neck by Zahradník dashing in. They clinch and Troyanovsky bangs Zahradník in the backside with his free right hand.

10-9 Troyanovsky, kind of a nothing round but he did score with the jab.

 

Round 2

Zahradník is patiently staying just beyond reach of Troyanovsky's one-twos, and sidestepping to clap him with rights when he lunges in trying. Switching tacks now, the Russian squats and hyper-extends the left jab into Zahradník's waist, but the Czech is able to get the jump on him with some quick lateral shuffling and then dribble a few body shots off Troyanovsky's belt line in turn. Zahradník stands directly in front of Troyanovsky at mid-range, surprisingly engaging in a jabbing duel with him and not faring all that poorly.

10-9 Zahradník, close

19-19

 

Round 3

Troyanovsky is stalking, jabbing the body and looking to maneuver Zahradník into the ropes where he can lay into him with the 1-2. Zahradník is using head movement to either make Troyanovsky miss the right cross or at least take its edge off, but the jab is finding him wherever he goes, at both high & low altitudes. Zahradník tries rushing in to force a close-quarters brawl and discombobulate Troyanovsky, but the former world titlist is able to create separation by splaying his legs and sliding into position to jab Zahradník's face in.

10-9 Troyanovsky

29-28 Troyanovsky

 

Zahradník has the right idea, in terms of game plan. He might just not have sufficient talent (and there's always the danger of getting caught with a spiteful right hand, which he is yet to do and which may spell game over).

 

Round 4

Zahradník is navigating through a jabbing asteroid belt and throwing a high tomahawk left jab of his own while cricking his neck so that his skull dips offline as he's coming in, then melting away in a crouch at diagonals, giving Troyanovsky no kind of target for his conventional jab-crossing MO. Zahradník getting clouted with rabbit punches, however, as Troyanovsky is happy to just pound his right fist into the back of the head as Zahradník attempts to slip out unscathed.

10-9 Troyanovsky

39-37 Troyanovsky

 

Round 5

Troyanovsky is floating the jab, letting it unfurl as far as it'll go, as Zahradník flits on his toes along the ring-ropes to avoid it. Zahradník is waiting until Troyanovsky appears to be taking a break and then barreling in with a power-jab into the gut before ducking out the side door to reset. Lots of movement on the outside by Zahradník, jogging his weight from one foot to another, but he spends very little time braving the waters as Troyanovsky keeps refilling his moat with those long stiff jabs. FINALLY a right cross connects cleanly on the face and Zahradník scrambles toward safety on the ropes before bouncing himself into a clinch, quickly repelled, and then runs.

10-9 Troyanovsky

49-46 Troyanovsky