(Photo Credit: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME) By Scott Gilfoid: Former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei Liakhovich (25-5, 16 KO’s) expects to take the talented American heavyweight Deontay Wilder (28-0, 28 KO’s) into the deeper rounds tonight to try and expose his chin and possible stamina problems at the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, Calif.
If Liakhovich can withstand Deontay’s huge right hand bombs in the first three rounds, this fight could be an interesting one. But that’s going to be tough for Liakhovich to be able to handle getting hit by a monster puncher like Deontay without hitting the canvas face first at some point in the first three rounds.
Liakhovich said this quoted by Fightnews.com “He’s got a very strong right hand, but he’s very predictable. I don’t see a lot of things special about him …I’m going to take him into deep waters.”
I’ve seen Liakhovich fight in a passive manner in losses to Bryant Jennings and Nikolay Valuev after getting hit hard early in those fights. I don’t think Liakhovich is going to want to mix it up with a guy like Deontay in order to try and get the victory, and that’s what it’s going to take for Liakhovich to have a chance to win this fight.
Liakhovich’s not going to be able to beat Deontay by running around on the outside, or by eating Deontay’s best right hands for 8 or 9 rounds before trying to spring on him in the 10th.
Liakhovich must got toe-to-toe with Deontay early, try and get his respect, and then go after him in the 7th or 8th if Deontay shows signs of wearing down. I don’t see it happening. Deontay punches like George Foreman and Mike Tyson put together, and Liakhovich doesn’t have the kind of chin needed for him to take those huge shots for 7 or 8 rounds to get to the point where Deontay might start showing signs of fatigue.
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