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Philippines, 14 Mar 2026 |
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DENIS GRACHEV, AN 11-1 UNDERDOG UPSETS ISMAYL SILLAKH By Ed de la Vega, DDS PhilBoxing.com Sat, 28 Apr 2012 Tonight at The Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas Russian-bred and now San Diego, CA resident Denis Grachev upset fellow Russian Ismayl Sillakh of Ukraine who now lives in Simi Valley, CA. In the process Grache grabbed Sillakh?s NABF Light Heavyweight title and kept his undefeated record. Grachev a former kickboxer is now 12-0-1 (8KO) while Sillakh who as an amateur was 302-16 is now 17-1-0, 14KO. The battle of the two Russian light heavies was the main event in tonight's ESPN Friday Night Fights. Grachev?s victory was totally unexpected. It was an epitome of the so called ?puncher?s chance.? In fact until the knock-out, he did not win any round at all against Sillakh. On top of that, he was knocked down in round 3 but recovered well after taking the 8-count. Grachev adds his new NABF belt to his WBC Youth Intercontinental and WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight titles. All through the fight Grachev appears to telegraph his punches allowing Sillakh to easily avoid them. He also has a tendency to hang his chin unprotected. It is mostly because of that that he did not win any round from the beginning to round 7. But he kept on charging like a 8-wheeler truck. In round 6th, he scored an overhand right that seemed to stun Sillakh. Then again, he scored another of the same in round 7. Up to that point in the fight those were his only meaningful punches. In the middle of round 8th, Grachev scored with a right hand. A straight shot that was set up by a jab. The punch stunned Sillakh who retreated. Sensing that his opponent is hurt, Grachev threw punches left and right landing them almost at will. Then came a really strong over hand right that dropped Sillakh. The referee took one look at Sillakh and decided that he had enough and waived off the fight at 2:18 of the round. Grachev?s victory made a lot of bettors happy. At 11-1 odds those who put money on him surely went home with a bundle. In the supporting main event undefeated featherweight prospect, Javier Fortuna (18-0-0 13KO) scored a TKO over Yuangdale Evans (17-2-1, 13 KO). Fortuna initially dropped Evans with a terrific right cross during a torrid exchange at the center of the ring. Evans took the 8 count but then made a mistake of mixing it up again. Another well placed right cross put Evan down again and the referee waived off the fight. Time 2:02 Round One. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.  |
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