Zhaoxin Zhang Rises From Canvas to Stop Evgenyh Romanov in Russia
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Feb 2024
Zhaoxin Zhang wins in Russia.
In a thrilling and impressive fashion, tall Chinese warrior Zhaoxin Zhang - a fighter of China's top promoter Liu Gang - stopped unbeaten and fearsome Russian WBA rated #2 Evgeny Romanov to win the WBA Bridgerweight (224-pounds) Eliminator today in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
The abbreviated, two-round battle could not have been more thrilling, more sensational, making it an early candidate for “Come back of the Year” fight.
Dropped badly to the floor in round one, the brave Zhaoxin Zhang was on the edge of the cliff, in the brink of a quick knockout defeat, fortunately being saved by the bell, getting back to his corner with his head seemingly in another dimension, not on Earth.
Zhaoxin Zhang crawls in the canvas after being dropped by Romanov in the first round.
Excited fans at the full-packed Uralets Arena were expecting their unbeaten local warrior to finish the job, which seemed he could, starting frame two by snapping back the head of Zhaoxin Zhang with crushing left and right hooks, putting the 28-year-old fighter from spicy Sichuan in horrible trouble again.
Zhang seemed done, but was he really out?
Unexpectedly and forcefully, in the blink of an eye, Zhang turned the Ocean tide in his favor, delivering a riveting, perfect attack with a monster right hand blasting onto Romanov's head, rocking him to the bones, dropping the strong Russian - face to the canvas.
Zhang (L) returns the favor sending Romanov to the canvas in the second round.
Until-then undefeated, courageous Romanov tried to regain his vertical and somehow did it, but no way he could go on fighting, the damage was too evident, the 6-foot Russian from Volgograd, practically giving his back to the referee and opponent, stumbling towards his corner, prompting the third man to just waive the fight off, dropping the jaws of thousands of Russian fans, silencing all of them in a matter of seconds.
What a way to celebrate Chinese New Year in Russia.
With the win, Zhang claims the right to fight the Russian WBA Bridgerweight World Champion Evgeny Tishchenko (13-1, 8 KO's) next.
Could Zhaoxing Zhang (11-2-1, 6 KO's) defeat Tishchenko too, to become another world champion for China? We'll see.
Congratulations Zhaoxin Zhang, 新年快乐！
The author Carlos Costa of Panama is a veteran boxing reporter living in Asia since 1991. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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