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.
Though it’s only Alexeev’s 14th fight, the former 2004 Olympian for the Russian team is already ranked #6 in the WBO cruiserweight division. Griffis, 34, a veteran of many years, was no match for Alexeev. In the opening round, Alexeev jabbed Griffis frequently, seeming to soften him up for Alexeev’s powerful left hand, which he unloaded on him twice, knocking Griffis down. Upon getting up, Griffis was met with a shower of blows, left hands, right hooks and uppercuts from Alexeev. A minute later, Alexeev once again knocked Griffis down after hitting him with two rights followed by a big left hand to the head. Thankfully, for Griffis, the rounded ended before Alexeev could finish him off.
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.