Padraig McCrory With A Resounding Statement Win Over the Tough Marco Sergei Gorokhov
There’s potential for serious fireworks at Falls Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland as local prospect Padraig McCrory steps into the ring to face Russia’s Sergei Gorokhov in a ten-round super middleweight contest. Both men carry a reputation for packing big power in both fists.
McCrory has eyes on moving himself into the world rankings. To do that, the 33-year-old from Belfast must get past the dangerous and aggressive Gorokhov. As a result, no slip-up can be afforded in any form.
In his previous outing on April 23, Gorokhov scored an upset TKO of the then-unbeaten Marko Nikolic. What made the win more impressive was that the fight took place in Nikolici’s home country of Serbia. Having fought on the enemy’s territory to spoil the applecart by snatching an unexpected victory before, can the 33-year-old from Kaliningrad, Russia do it again, for the second fight in a row?
MAKING IT LOOK EASY
McCroy (12-0, 6 KOs) understands from jump that he was facing a shorter fighter who likes to apply pressure. Therefore, he wisely implored a boxing strategy early on. He used the left jab and foot movement to keep Gorokhov (11-3-2, 7 KOs) at bay for the first three rounds.
A minute into the fourth, the power of McCrory came into play. He put the Russian down with a beautiful left jab/right-uppercut combination. From there, the fighter from Belfast put the pressure on. At the end of the round, Gorokhov was visibly bothered and badly cut on the bridge of his nose.
With seventy four seconds to go in round five, the referee called Gorokhov to the corner to assess the damage to his bleeding beak. Judging that the cut was too severe, the ringside physician decided to call a halt to the contest.
Overall, it was a clinical performance by McCrory. He picked, prodded, and ultimately finished his foe. After the fight, he declared that he’s a force to be reckoned with at 168 pounds and is on the fast track to a world title. There is no time to waste, given his age. This is the kind of performance and win that should get him the world ranking he badly covets.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
