IVAN REDKACH AND LUIS CRUZ FIGHT TO SPLIT DRAW IN THRILLING MAIN EVENT

BETHLEHEM, PA.

In early action, Cruz began to establish his straight right hand when he knocked Redkach off balance and sent him to the canvas in round two. The Puerto Rican veteran controlled much of the early rounds with that right hand, great movement and overall boxing ability.

Redkach was aggressive throughout, throwing 602 punches over the 10-round bout to Cruz’s 485. However, Cruz’s 33 percent connect rate was good enough for him to dominate the first half of the fight.

The 2008 Ukranian Olympian began to find a landing zone for his big left hand as the fight wore on and late in round eight he landed one cleanly on Cruz that dropped him hard. Redkach was then awarded a controversial knockdown in an explosive ninth round when Cruz fell to the mat on what he said was a slip as a result of a push.

Both men emptied the tank in the final round knowing that one punch could change the outcome of the fight and ended with several flurries. The scores after 10 rounds were razor thin at 94-93 for Redkach, 94-93 Cruz and 94-94, resulting in the split draw.

IVAN REDKACH

“I think I won, but it was a good fight.

“The knockdown I suffered was me losing my balance. I felt I controlled the fight because I knocked him down twice. I thought I could have stopped him after the first knockdown.

“I am not going to argue with the decision but I feel I won the fight.”