Video: Yunier Dorticos knocks out Dmitry Kudryashov, advances to WBSS semifinals

“The KO Doctor” gave Dmitry Kudryashov a taste of his own medicine.

The World Boxing Super Series quarterfinal matchup between Yunier Dorticos and Dmitry Kudryashov wasn’t expected to go the distance. Both men came into Saturday night’s fight with a combined 41 KO victories out of 42 wins, with Kudryashov in particular being known as possibly the hardest pound-for-pound puncher in boxing. Nobody ever said Kudryashov was great defensively though, and he paid the price against a man known as “The KO Doctor.”

Dorticos was a clear favorite to beat the Russian, having the clear advantage in technical ability, gas tank, and speed. After a good opening round, the fight heated up a bit in round 2, with both men throwing strong punches, but the Cuban unleashed a perfect right hand that sent Kudryashov crashing to the canvas for the first time in his career. Wobbly and badly hurt, Kudryashov was counted out, and Dorticos successfully defended his WBA “regular” championship belt.

You can watch the knockout video at the top of the page, complete with Russian commentary.

Dorticos will now face the winner of Murat Gassiev vs. Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. He’s definitely a force to be reckoned with.

World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight bracket

Quarterfinals (Sept/Oct 2017)

#1 Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (WBO champion - 13-0, 11 KOs) def. Marco “Captain” Huck (40-5-1, 27 KOs) by TKO, round 10

#3 Mairis Briedis (WBC champion - 22-0, 18 KOs) vs Mike “The Rebel” Perez (22-2-1, 14 KOs) - September 30th in Riga, Latvia

#2 Murat “Iron” Gassiev (IBF champion - 24-0, 17 KOs) vs Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (53-3-1, 37 KOs) - October 21st in Newark, New Jersey

#4 Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (WBA secondary champion - 22-0, 21 KO) def. Dmitry “The Russian Hammer” Kudryashov (21-2, 21 KO) by KO, round 2

Semifinals (Jan/Feb 2018)

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Winner of Breidis/Perez

Yunier Dorticos vs. Winner of Gassiev/Wlodarczyk

Final (May 2018)

TBA vs. TBA