Sultan Ibragimov Defeats a Legend
// Professional Boxing
The main event on Thursday in one of the most prestigious arenas in the world, New York's Madison Square Garden, was the match between Russian heavy-weight boxer Sultan Ibragimov and well-known American Al “Ice” Cole. Ibragimov knocked his opponent out in the third round and showed the world that it's not for nothing that they look for champions around the world.
The little-known title of World Boxing Organization champion of the Asian-Pacific Region depended on this match. But the significance of the match is great, at least for Ibragimov. In 2000, he earned the silver medal in the Sydney Olympics fighting against legendary Cuban boxer Felix Savon. A few years later, he began his professional career, which is going quite well so far. By this Thursday, he had fought 14 times and won them all, thus earning a certain fame. American commentators noted that he had a strong blow. Trainer Panama Lewis agreed to take him on, after Roberto Jordan, Franz Boito and Arturo Gatti. Chief promoter Don King watches one if Sultan Ibragimov's fights. But Ibragimov lacks real proclaim in America.
Now he has it.
This match drew attention not only because it was a Russian fighting in Madison Square Garden, but because the opponent was Cole. He was champion of the world in the early 1990s, but now he is already 40 years old.
Ibragimov took his chance o n greatness. Now he has to fight for much bigger titles. In any case, WBO vice president Luis Perez said that they are ready for the Russian champion's “full” match.
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 05, 2005
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Photo: Alexey Kudenko
