Young Guns Progress Report
By Julian Kasdin (Aug 5, 2006)
The past few weeks have seen a few the Young Guns step up while others kept busy by stepping on the competition. Malik Scott, Denis Boytsov, Ruslan Chagaev, Egon Roth, Sebastian Kober, JD Chapman and Alexander Dimitrenko have all added feathers to their respective caps as they either outboxed or simply powered through their opposition.

First up is Malik Scott who moved to 25-0 (10), with a lackluster but wide unanimous decision win over Marcus McGee, 15-11 (8), on the Carlos Baldomir vs. Arturo Gatti undercard. While Scott won every round the fight was a snoozer as
Malik appeared both out of shape, he came in at a career high of 255, and disinterested in doing anything more than winning. Malik is more skilled and stronger than McGee and he should have put on a better showing against such an overmatched opponent. Malik might be the most skilled of the American Young Guns, but right now he is his own worst enemy.

JD Chapman moved to 24-0 (21), with a dominating performance over Chris Lewallen, 9-4 (9). Chapman showed more authority in the ring than in previous fights. His work with Jeff Mayweather is clearly paying off as JD was able to work behind a solid jab and put his combinations together very well. If JD continues to improve he will become a very dangerous fighter.

From Germany we have Denis Boytsov, 15-0 (14), who fought easily the hardest opposition in his young career when he squared off against Edson Cesar Antonio, 34-3 (26). Boytsov appeared physically stronger than ever in this, and while many predicted a knockout win for the very young Russian, Boystov was finally extended the distance. He dominated the fight with his power, speed and measured aggression. This resulted in him scoring one knockdown and hurting his overmatched foe several times. It is interesting to note that the announcers on both English and German broadcasts for the fight remarked that it seemed as if Boytsov’s trainer told him to go the distance as it seemed as if whenever Denis turned up the heat he had Antonio in worlds of trouble.

On the same card huge Egon Roth moved to 16-0 (12), with a unanimous decision win over Iva Perkovic, 10-5 (7). Roth has been criticized for looking very robotic and sluggish in the ring, and this win did not silence the critics. Roth, much like Malik Scott, needs to take advantage of overmatched foes and really press the advantages. I think it is great that Roth always comes in shape and he is a skilled fighter, but he needs to start fighting with a little more fire.

Next is Ruslan Chagaev (pictured above) who moved to 21-0-1 (17), with a stoppage win over the usually durable Michael Sprott, 28-10 (14). Chagaev was the stronger and more aggressive fighter, and was able to cut off the ring against the cagey Sprott before stopping him in the eighth round. There are some who believe this win will either set Chagaev up with a rematch against Vladimir Virchis, 21-1 (18), who he beat earlier this year, or maybe lead to a fight with Danny Williams, 36-5 (29). We can only wait and see.

That night Sebastian Kober would move to 3-0 (3), with a two round destruction of Karoly Kovacs, 13-16 (3), in what was really a keep busy fight. Kober is a big man with the looks to garner crossover appeal if he does well. His next fight should be an indicator of how far along his management thinks he is.

Last but not least we have Alexander Dimitrenko, possibly the furthest along of all the Young Guns, he moved to 22-0 (13), with a two round walkover of Chad Van Sickle, 21-4-3 (12). Dimitrenko is a huge fighter, at 6’7” and around 250 pounds and he has beat the trial horses I believe it is time that his management puts him in with fringe contenders and let us see what this young man is capable of. He has a varied arsenal, skill, and respectable power and all of these tools should be put to use against fighters like Danny Williams or Sinan Samil Sam.

Coming up in the next few months we will have Denis Boytsov facing TBA on September ninth. The powerful Oleg Platov will make his biggest jump in competition, and arguably the biggest jump in competition for any Young Gun when he takes on former WBO champion Henry Akinwande on September 23. On the same card is Alexander Povetkin taking on the very well known TBA. Sebastian Kober returns to the ring on the 22nd of this month with a fight against TBA again on the undercard of the Taras Bidenko vs. Alex Mazikin fight. Bidenko, another Young Gun, is looking to rebound from his loss to Vladimir Virchis by beating the very big and skilled Mazikin, this is a fight to pay attention too. JD Chapman returns to the ring on the 16th and 23rd of September when he will face Chauncy Welliver, 29-3-4 (11), and then Shelby Gross, 16-3 (13). ‘Fast’ Eddie Chambers will make his return to the ring on the 15th of September against another TBA, and finally Devin Vargas will be fighting a TBA on the 11th of this month. That about does it for the Young Guns this month, hopefully I will have more good news in the next few months as these young men fight their way towards fistic glory.


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Julian at: Alcaldemb@aol.com
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