Ivan Baranchyk (19-0, 12 KOs) used an all out attacking style to wear down and stop #3 IBF Anthony Yigit (21-1-1, 7 KOs) after the 7th round on Saturday night to win the vacant IBF 140lb strap last Saturday night in a battle of unbeaten fighters in the WBSS light welterweight tournament at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The fight had to be stopped after the 7th round as a result of Yigit’s left eye swelling shut on him from the hard punches by Baranchyk. If Yigit had it his way, he would have continued fighting, but the ringside doctor called for the fight to be stopped. The swelling of Yigit’s eye was too much for the doctor to allow it to continue.
The pressure from Baranchyk put on Yigit, 27, proved to be too much for the Swedish fighter’s left eye. Aside from Yigit’s eye problem, he was doing quite well in the fight with him countering Baranchyk. Yigit had the crowd on his side throughout the fight, as the fans liked the way he was fighting back. Yigit never stopped firing back shots, which could be a product of Baranchyk lacking the power to stop him outright.
”You never want a fight to be stopped,” said Yigit. “Maybe it was the right decision. Our game plan was to take him later on. Because they stopped the fight, I couldn’t fulfill it. He is a hard hitter, congrats to him!”
The win for Baranchyk puts him in the semifinal of the World Boxing Super Series light welterweight tournament. He’s now waiting for the winner of next Saturday’s quarterfinal fight between Josh Taylor and Ryan Martin. The winner of the Taylor-Martin fight is expected to be a lot tougher fight for Baranchyk than Yigit, because both of those guys can punch. Taylor is a big puncher with a lot of talent. Yigit isn’t a power puncher, and that’s what made it possible for Baranchyk to walk him down all fight long.
It would be interesting to see Baranchyk make it to the final of the World Boxing Super Series tourney so that fans can see him battle Regis Prograis or Kiryl Relikh. Those two are facing each other in the semifinal of the WSST tourney.
“Anthony is a tough fighter – he gave everyone a good show and a good fight,”Baranchyk in giving Yigit credit after the fight. “This was a tough fight but I won,” said big punching Baranchyk and praised his coach Pedro Diaz. He is a good coach. I love him and with him, I will win the Ali Trophy! I believe Taylor will win the fight,” said Baranchyk in predicting a victory for Josh Taylor over Ryan Martin.
Yigit won over a lot of fans in losing. He lost the fight, but he won the event. It was that kind of performance from Yigit. He looked great. if not for the eye injury, it would have been a real drama show in the championship rounds.
It’s not difficult for Baranchyk to predict the winner of the Martin vs. Taylor fight, as Josh is a big favorite for that match.