BoxRec

Was reading Boxing News and can't help but think they sold Inkin short. Portraying him as a 1 dimensional puncher doesn't really wash with me, sorry. Especially when he was outjabbing Mario Veit for stages of their fight (Veit is 6'3) and with him being a fighter who scientifically and patiently breaks ppl down...

Anyway, I see him as a well balanced ring general who has wins over Veit, Mkrtchian and Ovill McKenzie to back it up. He's the first world class fighter to get a #1 WBO ranking (at s/middle) and hence a meaningful fight.

Certainly, Calzaghe would be favored as too fast & experienced. But his left hand gets fvcked every fight and the Taff has had a 4 year paucity of competitive rounds. Could Denis Inkin beat a 1 handed Calzaghe?

Inkin has very good skills, stong amateur back ground and great heart, however his chin isnt too good..

He was decked regularly in the amateurs (although on most occasions got up to win which shows great heart) and decked by Oville in the pros.

With our shitty refs he probably wouldnt get much chance to ride out the storm and come back should Calzaghe drop him and then bombard him with the rapid slaps...

The Fact that Warren is talking him up as an opponent tells you that they are confident he can win....

Would love to see Inkin do it though :-)

Yes, that's 1 thing I neglected. He does have a weedy look about him and Veit hurt him with a short right/right uppercut combo though he came back well.

What I love is Inkin's timing and judgement of space. His positioning is top drawer and he might make subtle moves to avoid the brunt of a Joe flurry.

Interesting to hear about the amateur knockdowns, Knockout, as I thought he looked a bit fragile for a sec against Veit: he seemed to freeze when Veit caught him - usualy a sign of a less than solid set of whiskers.

But who knows if Joe can KO anyone anymore, his hands seems shot to hell - he hardly landed anything too solid v Manfredy, and they STILL went.

But while Inkin looks an all round good fighter, I think a semi decent puncher will find him out before he hits the heights.

The time could be right for him to get Joe. While he doesn't look strong and sturdy as Kessler he's one of the few fighters who truly looks like he knows what he's doing.

Inkin also beat Froch in the amateurs too didn't he and Froch was a quality amateur. I think The Ring have sold him up abit short also, ranking him at 9th below Andrade and Allan Green. I rate Inkin on the same level as Bute and Froch.

lvlarc wrote:Inkin also beat Froch in the amateurs too didn't he and Froch was a quality amateur. I think The Ring have sold him up abit short also, ranking him at 9th below Andrade and Allan Green. I rate Inkin on the same level as Bute and Froch.

I agree there. How can he be ranked below Allan Yellow?

I'd say at the very least Calzaghe should be facing Inkin. Anyone who complains about that fight can fvck off.

I don't think Inkin is particularly good, alright but not special at all. Lets not forget his fight with Veit was close untill the stoppage - its only Mario Veit.

Thats about his level IMO, Steiglitz, Brahmer, Veit.... maybe better than these three - but only on the same bracket.

Yet he was stepping up in class and for me he was winning all the way apart from rounds 3 and 4 where he lost his way a bit.

Final Fight wrote:Yet he was stepping up in class and for me he was winning all the way apart from rounds 3 and 4 where he lost his way a bit.

I just didn't think he looked confortable at all. For me, all the rounds were pretty close. For me they looked roughly the same level - although Inkin obviously closer to the top of that "league" than Mario.

Calzaghe is about 3 leagues up from Veit though.

MightyWarrior wrote:Interesting to hear about the amateur knockdowns, Knockout, as I thought he looked a bit fragile for a sec against Veit: he seemed to freeze when Veit caught him - usualy a sign of a less than solid set of whiskers.

But who knows if Joe can KO anyone anymore, his hands seems shot to hell - he hardly landed anything too solid v Manfredy, and they STILL went.

But while Inkin looks an all round good fighter, I think a semi decent puncher will find him out before he hits the heights.

I say "regularly", that is probably a little harsh... but for an amateur as good as he was he did hit the deck more than his fair share :-)

knockout wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote:Interesting to hear about the amateur knockdowns, Knockout, as I thought he looked a bit fragile for a sec against Veit: he seemed to freeze when Veit caught him - usualy a sign of a less than solid set of whiskers.

But who knows if Joe can KO anyone anymore, his hands seems shot to hell - he hardly landed anything too solid v Manfredy, and they STILL went.

But while Inkin looks an all round good fighter, I think a semi decent puncher will find him out before he hits the heights.

I say "regularly", that is probably a little harsh... but for an amateur as good as he was he did hit the deck more than his fair share :-)

What did this kid do as an amateur, knockout?

Thing is, Joe isn't a good puncher anymore.

Inkin is okay but not great. I'd expect Calzaghe to beat him reasonably comfortably.

bennie wrote:

knockout wrote:

MightyWarrior wrote:Interesting to hear about the amateur knockdowns, Knockout, as I thought he looked a bit fragile for a sec against Veit: he seemed to freeze when Veit caught him - usualy a sign of a less than solid set of whiskers.

But who knows if Joe can KO anyone anymore, his hands seems shot to hell - he hardly landed anything too solid v Manfredy, and they STILL went.

But while Inkin looks an all round good fighter, I think a semi decent puncher will find him out before he hits the heights.

I say "regularly", that is probably a little harsh... but for an amateur as good as he was he did hit the deck more than his fair share :-)

What did this kid do as an amateur, knockout?

Bennie Boy, i dont have many details, but the fact that he represented Russia in a competetive division tells you he must have been pretty good!!
I will try get some more details .....

Just spoke with Erik Teymour and he told me th following (although he was a bit unsure of dates)

Goodwill games in 1998 he got beaten up pretty bad in a round by the legendary Ariel Hernandez.. he was only 20 at the time and in against one of the greatest boxers in that division.

Erik also says he boxed in the Junior world championship in Havana in 1996 (where Hatton medalled) although he didnt medal.

He fought in many small tournaments for Russia winning plenty.

He also lost against Gaidarbekov in the russian champs.

Inkin's too well schooled for Joe to beat him easily. of all the good fighters Joe has beaten - and there have been some - none were from the textbook were they? Eubank was the most savvy, and despite Chris's fierce 1997 performance, 'Simply the Best' has always been a weirdo stylist.

Inkin would be competitive and is too good a pro to get trapped or hurt by shoeshiners. If Joe breaks his left hand, that gives Inkin a great advantage for an upset. Perfect time for Inkin, why are his people not making any noise??

I thought the way he finished Veit was world class, the combination i mean. If i recall is was a hook, body shot and as Veit winced Inkin threw in an uppercut to scramble Veit's senses. So for all that went on in that fight the finish was quality and Veit was coming off the back of a win over Brahmer.