Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
The weights are in for Saturday’s ESPN event headlined by former world title challengers in Bryant Jennings and Alexander Dimitrenko.
Jennings was in his usual excellent shape, matching the 225-pound weight on his April decision win over Joey Dawejko. Dimintrenko’s 257 is a pound less from his December DQ win over Miljan Rovcanin and his lowest weight since 2016.
PREDICTION: The 6’7 Dimitrenko has decent power but is a lumbering giant. What Jennings lacks in knockout power he makes up in a high workrate and physical strength. He’ll be constantly in motion and use his faster hands (and feet) to dominate the inside action with quick, short hooks and a consistent body attack. Look for the pace to wear on Dimintrenko and allow for Jennings to gain an attrition stoppage around the eighth.
HART VS. GAVRONSKI: It’s taken both these guys several years to rebound from decisive defeats and get back into title contention.
Gavronski suffered a shocking corner stoppage to journeyman Dashon Johnson back in 2015. Since then, he’s gone 4-0-1 (NC) with the most notable wins being over then undefeated prospect Jake Carr and a faded Bryan Vera.
Hart dropped a decision to future title-holder Gilberto Ramirez last September. He’s bounced back with two knockout wins over Thomas Awimbono and Demond Nicholson.
Gavronski likes to work off the backfoot and has a solid counter left hook. Hart is more versatile — he can bang inside or use his 77′ length to control foes with his pole-like jab. With only a 71′ reach, Gavronski will need to consistently get inside. But aggression isn’t his game and it’s likely he gets tentative once he tastes Hart’s power. Add on Hart being the natural super middleweight and I see an early KO from for the man from Philly.
Olympian Shakir Stevenson looks for his eighth win and third consecutive knockout when he takes on Carlos Ruiz (16-4-2). Stevenson should get some rounds in as Ruiz has never been stopped in his six-year career.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 