Tony Del Vecchio on Chudinov loss, outlook on McCulloch’s future

 
BEN McCulloch’s shot at winning a version of the WBA super middleweight world title was courageous albeit short lived, going down in two rounds to big punching Fedor Chudinov in Moscow earlier this morning.

 
McCulloch, 32, showed promise early, entertaining the partizan crowd at the Dynamo Palace of Sports in Krylatskoye, tagging Chudinov, 27, with some sharp jabs in the opening stanza.

 
The previously unbeaten Australian was the underdog going into the fight, but he certainly didn’t fight like one.

 
Despite Chudinov (now 12-0, 10 KOs) being the bigger puncher on paper, McCulloch (now 14-1, 11 KOs) took the fight right to his Russian counterpart, fighting the majority of the fight on the inside.

 
The fight’s ending was swift and ultimately brutal. Chudinov appeared to stun McCulloch twice with his overhand right, but to his credit, McCulloch took the shots well and continued to trade. However, it was the punch that he never saw come that sealed his fate.

 
With just under a minute remaining in the second round, Chudinov connected flush with a right hand to the temple – sending McCulloch to the canvas face first – prompting referee Jean-Louis Legland to immediately call the fight.

 
The Coffs Harbour native was unconscious upon meeting the canvas and was out for several minutes before being assisted to his feet.

 
A disappointed Team Juicer, lead by head trainer Tony Del Vecchio spoke exclusively to Aus-Boxing shortly following the fight and was full of praise for his charge.

 
“I thought the early part of the fight was Ben’s, due to his distance and control,” Del Vecchio explained. “But his legs didn’t seem to be there – to move and be swift – and he got caught with a great shot,”

 
“He was holding his own and definitely gave us reasons in round one to be confident but simply was drawn into the wrong fight,”

 
While the dust is still settling on what was a long camp for both trainer and fighter, Del Vecchio was eager to let things play out before deciding on what McCulloch’s next move would be.

 
“We’ll give it a few weeks and assess our plans for the New Year from there,”

 
With that said, Del Vecchio was quick to acknowledge the Australian boxing community, who he believes rallied behind his fighter, as well as their team of sponsors, who supported his fighter from their Sydney home base.

 
“I really wan to thank all of the Australian fight fraternity,” he said in closing. “Especially our sponsors Mass Nutrition Bondi, SuperFeast, The Junction Chiropractic Clinic, and Zoe’s Martial Arts and Boxing Supplies,”

 
“We are truly grateful,”