Second of December in Nova Scotia. 12 rounds @ cruiserweight in a WBC final eliminator. Currently the WBC has Rozicki and Durodola ranked #8 and #12 respectively. The former is also ranked #9 by the WBO & WBA. I don't hate this fight, honestly. While the 43 year old Nigerian-American glass cannon is clearly not as dangerous as he was during his pomp 8-10 years ago, it's still the biggest step up for the young Polish-Canadian since his lone defeat against Óscar Rivas in a bid for the inaugural "bridgerweight" championship just over 2 years ago. Durodola has a ½″ height advantage over Rozicki, and is 15 years his senior. Both men have wins-by-KO rates in excess of 90% - so this if nothing else will be a fun shootout.
Last time Durodola fought somebody with the initials "R.R.", he got stopped. Last time Rozicki fought somebody with the first initial "O.", he lost a UD.
Durodola is only good these days at crushing random cans in obscure places in Africa. I have to give credit to Ola, he has created a formula of sorts to stay relevant and get the occasional significant fight, albeit each he faces someone of note, like Ryan, he gets blitzed. This being a final eliminator is underwhelming. But the prospect of Gevor vs Rozicki is a redeeming enough.
Rozicki's power is real. Haven't seen footage, but I'm told his last-round stoppage of Alante Green in September was KOTY material. 43 year-old Durodola can't live with Ryan in a phonebooth and that's where it's gonna go.
Yeah he can whack but he's slow and not very clever, so whereas you might usually give Durodola the puncher's chance it only really applies to chinny opponents. If there were concerns there for Rozicki they probably would have been exposed over 12 rounds by Rivas. Au contraire, in the late going he was gassed out but stood up to Kaboom's shots just fine: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...quin-adrián-murrieta-lucio-rbr.676107/page-10
I would like to witness a bout between Rozicki and Cinkara in an eliminator match within the IBF or WBA. Both are highly ranked and skilled boxers: a power puncher versus a technician with quick hands, making it a truly compelling matchup.
