Alexeev Destroys Griffis

By Jim Dower: Undefeated cruiserweight contender Alexander Alexeev (14-0, 13 KOs) obliterated American Talmadge Griffis (24-8-3, 16 KOs) on Saturday night, stopping him in the 3rd round of a scheduled 12-round championship bout for the WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title at the Brandberge Arena, Halle an der Saale, in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. Alexeev, 26, dropped Griffis twice in the 1st round, and staggered badly at the end of the 2nd round. Following the end of the second round, the fight was stopped in between rounds by Griffis’ corner to prevent any more needless punishment of their fighter.

In the second round, Alexeev started off throwing jabs and then quickly moved onto throwing combinations as he battered the veteran Griffis around the ring. Griffis attempted a few shots of his own, but Alexeev quickly backed away from each one while firing back hooks during his retreat. Near the end of the round, Alexeev staggered Griffis with a big left hand. He quickly went after him, landing a blizzard of shots as the round came to a close. Griffis, looking like a war surviver, staggered back to his corner, the right side of his eye bleeding badly. His corner wasted little time in stopping the fight, knowing that Griffis had little chance at staying in the fight if it were to have gone another round.