CHRISTIAN Mbilli chopped through Maciej Sulecki like an apex predator, carefully selecting the right moment before putting his explosive frame – designed almost entirely for destruction – to expert use.
Even before their super-middleweight clash took place earlier this morning, the dynamite puncher had already established himself as one of his sport’s most all-action operators.
Guaranteeing excitement every time he steps through the ropes, it was no surprise, then, that Mbilli, 29-0 (24 KOs), took care of business in typically ruthless fashion.
Only, instead of going toe-to-toe with Sulecki, 33-4 (13 KOs), for at least a few rounds, as most would have expected, the Frenchman was able to emphatically halt proceedings in the first three minutes.
In doing so, Mbilli not only outshone Diego Pacheco, his 168lb rival, in the exact fashion he had teased during the build-up, but also claimed the vacant WBC interim title.
And with that belt – strapped tightly around his chiselled waist – it is only a matter of time before he emerges as the mandatory challenger for the winner of Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.
Regarding his assignment against Sulecki, meanwhile, it was not long before Mbilli launched himself into range and, as he so often does, began to pile on the pressure.
His approach, however, was not reckless but instead defined by constant head movement, making him an elusive target as he inched closer towards his prey.
It was then just after a minute from the opening bell, in fact, that Mbilli landed his first meaningful shot – a sharp right hand, delivered from his crouching stance – that seemingly caught Sulecki by surprise.
Soon after, the WBC’s leading contender only began to display a greater impetus, with a series of promising body attacks, in particular, creating an opening for his monstrous right uppercut.
The shot, which generated such force that it would have more than likely derailed a moving train, afforded Sulecki little hope of getting back to his feet.
Moments after he was sent crashing down to the canvas, though, the 36-year-old somehow did just that, only for referee Michael Griffin to ultimately deem that he was in no position to continue.
