By Dmitry Mossienko: On Saturday March 30, the clash between Kharkov native Alex Gvozdik against rough and tough Afro-French warrior DouDou Ngumbu was anticipated with much interest, first and foremost for it was the first title defense of Alexander’s WBC light heavyweight championship belt!
The opponent, as everyone realized , 37 years old football-player-dancer-boxer from reasonably democratic republic of Congo (He was born in Kinshasa 7.5 years after the biggest fight of the 20th century, the legendary Rumble-in-Jungle between the Legend Muhammad Ali and no less living legend George Foreman!!), – he’s not much of the opponent for Gvozdik as compared to Kovalev, Baterbiev, Bivol or Venesuela native Alvarez! Yet, prior to this fight the Kharkov native had finished with a very solid nail in the boxing career of a once seemingly very great fighter Adonis Stevenson, having sent him to the hospital for several months, and this alone had guaranteed the gate of Alexander’s fight with any opponent at least in a small boxing Arena in Philadelphia.
This ending of the previous fight also guaranteed a big interest to the TV broadcast, which in our case was supported by Alexander’s countrymen from the Ukrainian gas producer and refiner UGD in Kharkov region, producing pretty decent high octane gasoline Shebel (which I do not buy, yet feel respectful to the guys for supporting the sport!)
To say that Ngumbu immediately went into the doldrums, or he immediately piled into diapers after such a classic and sturdy Kharkov style unexpected right jabflying into his left ear in the first round, that the African fellow went early into the clinching with the tall Kharkov fighter, this would be an exaggeration. However, it was obvious that neither Doudou, nor his coach, nor the judge could not forget for a second, where his predecessor was sent by similar unexpected punches! They thought too much about how to survive. And when you are badly “Crushed in the toilet”, this is extremely insufficient!
DANCES ON THE CONGO MAYDAN
When you see how a 37-year-old experienced pro boxer begins to try dancing in front of an experienced, younger, very dangerous and focused champion, it becomes obvious that this is a panic. I was amazed by what was happening, because I had previously seen Ngumbu in action, including from by the ring. He has always been an inventive, clever boxer, with a diverse arsenal, excellent legs (he played professional football, Sasha Usyk immediately comes to my mind here!)
I knew that he came to Philadelphia in a good mood. Nevertheless, the excellent condition, focus and gravity of Gvozdik’s blows so quickly demoralized the French fighter.
As often happens after you imitate independence by public dancing, everythingon Doudou’s side turned mess, the judge’s insistent warnings about holding and dangerous head movement, the growing pressure from Gvozdik, and finally a sharp pain in Doudou’s leg which forced the referee (oh this story with Adonis!) to stop the fight! Doudou sat on the canvas and wept bitterly. Sasha came up to cheer on his sports comrade, to shake his hand! It’s no secret to anyone – 37 years is not an easy age for any man, especially for a boxer who might have missed the last chance to fight for the championship belt.
Ppersonally, I expected that Ngumbu was good enough to go the distance with Gvozdik, to show his inherent tenacity, ingenuity, as well as resilience and endurance many African warriors are famous for! However, apparently, the fact that the Zairian Frenchman did not go through a good conditioning camp, andfinding the sparring partners worthy the level of Gvozdik for DouDou’s small gate under-dog fee was not easy to find fast, all this translated into his early stoppage!
