Prospect Pavel Silyagin is no longer a secret
Pavel Silyagin (7-0, 4ko) is a top prospect, and he is going to be a problem in the super middleweight division. The 27-year-old Russian boxer has been around the block in both the amateur and the semi-pro World Series of Boxing (WSB).
Silyagin’s deep amateur run compiled a record of 260-40, and he was a National champion in 2012. Furthermore, the 6’1 boxer won a bronze medal fighting at light heavyweight in the 2015 World Championships.
His outstanding run in the amateurs holds wins over Imam Khataev and Joe Ward. Also, he captured wins over 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Teymur Mammadov, former WBC title contender Avni Yildirim, and undefeated Vladimir Shishkin ranked by the WBC #6, WBA #13, and IBF #10.
The 27-year-old prospect would sharpen his skills even more by entering the WSB. He went on an impressive 10-1 run with wins over hard-punching light heavyweight Joshua Buatsi and top amateur standout Oleksandr Khyzhniak.
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
In February 2020, Silyagin stepped into the professional landscape and wasted little time running through opponents. In his first six fights, the opponents had a combined record of 88-64 with only his debut opponent, Bartlomiej Grafka (22-36-3, 10ko), having a losing record.
The top prospect was able to continue fighting despite the COVID-19 pandemic in his home country of Russia. Moreover, he was competing between super middleweight and light heavyweight.
In December 2020, with only five professional fights, Silyagin soundly defeated tough veteran fighter Siarhei Khamitski, who quit on the stool after four punishing rounds. Khamitski has been around the block in the sport fighting guys like former title contenders John Ryder, Martin Murray, and IBF Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.
A BOXING CLINIC
Silyagin would have a chance to announce himself to the entire boxing community on the undercard of unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev defending the title against Adam Deines in March 2021. He was taking on undefeated #4 rated WBC Silver champion Azizbek Abdugofurov (13-0, 5ko) and put on a masterclass boxing session. Fighting live on ESPN must have energized the young prospect because that jab had some extra sauce on it.
Silyagin put the arsenal on full display, showing excellent footwork and his ability to fight off the back foot. Furthermore, his uncanny ability to switch from southpaw to orthodox during combination punches keeps his opponent off balance the entire fight. However, his main attribute is fighting tall and never giving up the height or reach advantage, keeping opponents on the end of that power jab. Equally important, Silyagin is very sneaky at getting the right uppercut to the solar plexus, freezing guys dead in their tracks.
Thoroughly defeating Abdugofurov, newly crowned WBC Silver champion Silyagin should have jumped ahead of the line in the division. The super middleweight division is one of the deepest in boxing, and team Silyagin is going to be looking to get into the mix with some top names.
Make no mistake, this young man has been well-groomed, and with this recent victory, he has gone from prospect to immediate threat.
By: Garrisson Bland
