Alex Arthur v Kobo Gogoladze
Alex Arthur v Kobo Gogoladze
The Scot, coming into the fight with 24 wins and just one defeat on his record, admitted beforehand his need for a big win to prove his credibility and he delivered in emphatic style.
Three times he floored his American opponent, five years his senior at 34, before the referee eventually called time on ‘Cobra’ Gogoladze two minutes and 48 seconds into the 10th round.
Arthur is now the mandatory challenger for Joan Guzman’s world title, but, if the latter does as is expected and steps up a weight, Arthur will finally be crowned champion.
It would be an accomplishment few would begrudge based on his ferocious start and finish to this fight.
His left hook was as fast and efficient as Gogoladze’s movement was not.
The result, not surprisingly for anyone who heard Arthur’s pre-fight predictions, was a series of breath-sapping shots to the American’s body and a battle based in the centre of the ring early on.
It was not all one-way traffic, however, and an overhead right from Gogoladze followed by a vicious left-hook gave him the momentum at the end of the first.
The second spell began with much the same ferocity as the first, the ‘Road Runner’ – as Gogoladze has become known for his non-confrontational style – doing what he could to dispel his name.
Standing in the middle of the ring trading punches, the 34-year-old’s left hook evaded Arthur’s guard at will and caused the Scot some considerable discomfort early in the round.
But, stepping in behind a solid left jab, Arthur, who cut Gogoladze early in the round, gained the upper hand by forcing the older man into the corner and pounding his body with some stinging combinations.
The going was not so good in third round which Arthur, showing a deep cut below his right eye, probably edged, but early in the fourth his younger legs seemed to kick some extra spring into his step.
Indeed, the right hook he cracked into Gogoladze’s jaw 20 seconds before the end of the round seemed to mark the fight as his.
It brought a frustrated sigh from Gogoladze, but also seemed to extract some of his much-discussed dirty tactics.
A low blow brought a warning from the referee and seemingly a repercussion from the Scot, who sent his opponent to the floor only to see it ruled as a push.
The sixth saw Arthur, expected to initiate the action from the start, finally claim the front foot and it almost paid immediate dividends, a sharp right throwing Gogoladze against the ropes.
It was to prove a warning of things to come as moments later, with the round barely a minute from its conclusion, Gogoladze was floored by a left hook and faced a standing eight count.
Gogoladze fought bravely in the seventh, occasionally taking liberties in the clinch but aside from the stare-down at the end of the round it was tame compared to what went before.
The same could not be said of the eighth, as became apparent when Arthur put Gogoladze’s upper body through the ropes and again when he floored his opponent for the second time with a left hook to the head.
The ninth saw Gogoladze lose a point for headbutting, but make several with a string of accurate jabs. The impression was, however, that Arthur was firmly in control and the evidence came in the next round when a thunderous left hook sent Gogoladze crashing to the canvas.
The American fought on, but after an avalanche of further punishment – with little coming in reply – the referee stopped the fight.
Arthur later accused Gogoladze of being “one of the dirtiest fighters out there”.
He said: “He hit me below the belt, south of the border, south of the equator, everywhere you can imagine.
“What a filthy fighter. Every time he thought he had a chance he was head-butting, aiming low, twisting arms – terrible.
“But hey, he tried his best to do what he could to beat me and I still got him. I gave him the beating of his life. He wanted to win by doing the dirty things but it didn’t work.
“He’s one of the dirtiest out there, that’s for sure, but it was not going to stop me. I wanted this too bad. I’ve trained long and hard and was willing to take the pain. Wherever it was coming from.”
Arthur revealed the questionable tactics were not solely employed by his American-based opponent, but also by his whole camp.
He continued: “His trainer came in my changing room before the fight to check the gloves and everything, and started acting really strangely.
“He was there, trying to be pally, but looking around strangely and asking strange questions. Talking about how head-butts make me cut easily. I think he was trying to get me to give something away.
“It didn’t work, I was too focused on beating his guy.”
Arthur now stands on the verge of being crowned world champion if Guzman abdicates his title to move up a weight.
If, however, Guzman does agree to a fight – which would have to be within 90 days – Arthur is not fazed.
He said: “If he gives up the title great, if I have to earn it no problem. I think he’s happy and content and doesn’t need the bother of fighting me. If he does I’ll take him out.”
