FIGHTER PROFILE: DENIS LEBEDEV

BOXER:Denis Lebedev
HEIGHT: 5'11"
WEIGHT CLASS: Cruiserweight
NATIONALITY: Russian
FIGHTING STANCE: Southpaw
LAST WIN: KO 4 Ignacio Esparza TIME: 2:59

Lebedev crushes Ignacio Esparza in only 4 rounds, with his brutal power. His record is now an impressive 20-0, with 15 knockouts. This 4Th round destruction of Esparza was the Russian's 7Th consecutive knockout. It seems that I am writing about a new heavy handed Russian almost every week. People that have not seen this guy will question his choice of opponents. Remember it was only 3 fights ago when he dismantled Enzo Maccarinelli, and that only took him 3 rounds. He punishes his opponents with a head and vicious body attack. People hate to face southpaws but imagine a relentless, power punching Russian. He is the WBO Inter-Continental Cruiserweight champion, and also the WBO's number 1 contender for their version of the cruiserweight title. He will get a chance at the WBO crown after Marco Huck disposes of Adam Richards, and I think that is a winnable fight for Lebedev. If he can win the WBO crown he will command more attention of the other top cruiserweights out there. The winner of the Steve Cunningham VS. Matt Godfrey if he can get a shot at either one of them, that's only if he wins the WBO title, better be ready to face this tough contender. I'm not saying he could even beat either of the fighters I just mentioned. However I am saying he will lay it all on the line win, lose or draw, when he steps in the ring with either of them. I think he would have a better chance against Godfrey, because Cunningham is a better all around boxer with speed. Plus I think Cunningham is going to move up after when he beats Matt Godfrey on ESPN2 the26TH of March. Oh and don't let me forget about USS Cunningham's new brilliant trainer Nazim Richardson. He has also slipped in to Ring Magazine's number 10 spot at cruiserweight, and that's not easy. Lebedev is 30 years of age, but he had about a 4 year layoff from 2004 to 2008. Since the layoff he has knocked out every opponent he has faced each one more brutal then the next. So be on the look out for this rising contender because if nothing else he is sure fun to watch.

Nick Thomas