Denis Lebedev training hard for his bout against Shawn Cox – Boxing News
WBA interim-cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev and Shawn Cox are scheduled for a fight at the Crocus City Hall, Myakinino on April 4, Wednesday. Yesterday, on April 3, both fighters were present for the weight-in before the fight.
The Barbadian challenger Cox weighed at 90.7 kg whereas the champion weighed in at 90.3 kg. This way, the challenger has an upper hand over the champion as far as the weight is concerned. Cox, in his recent interview, sounded pretty confident when he said,
“I've prepared well for the bout at home, in Barbados, and I'm ready to go 15 rounds in the ring. I admit that after a long flight all I want to do is sleep, but in the fight on Wednesday it won't worry me in the slightest.”
Since Cox is coming with a streak of 5 knockouts in his 5 previous fights, he is looking as promising as he could ever be. However, analysts are still a bit critical over considering Cox the better fighter against Lebedev. According to them, the 37-year-old
challenger still has to prove his mettle. Cox has not yet achieved rankings in the top 15 fighters of the world, therefore he needs to prove his abilities in this fight to move higher.
On the other hand, the champion knows his game well and he knows how to take down Cox. He said, “It’s clear that the guy can fight hard and precisely. But we’re ready for that.”
Lebedev is not deluded and he knows Cox can give him a tough time, therefore he is training hard for his title defense. Since this will be Cox’s probably last chance to prove himself, he will give it his best shot and that is where Lebedev needs to be careful.
Denis Lebedev won the title by nailing James Toney via unanimous decision in Moscow last year in November. James Toney, also known as Lights Out, was in his best shape yet he lost to Denis. James is a former three-division world champion, who made him the
favourite for his fight against Denis but he lost, disappointing his fans severely.
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