Marat Grigorian's (48-10-1-1, 29 KO's) gameplan for every fight is broadly similar: march forward, get in range of the opponent and then let go a constant stream of combinations which don't stop until the bell ends the fight or the opponent hits the canvas.
Standing opposite him tonight was Anton Petrov (10-6, 3 KO's), a Bulgarian fighter based in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he trains with lightweight prospect Niclas Larsen at Mikenta Gym.
Petrov has a similar style to Grigorian but a less frequent competition schedule. He also came in on just three weeks' notice so, while an entertaining brawl was seemingly on the cards, the odds seemed to favor Grigorian.
There was some intense exchanges in the first round, but Grigorian edged ahead with a power and output advantage. His low kick was money in the bank, hammering Petrov's thigh over and over, disrupting his balance and thereby opening up his guard.
In the second round, Grigorian landed and uppercut/hook combination which dropped Petrov, but it was actually a low kick shortly afterwards which seemed to finally seal the deal. Petrov went down and could not regain his feet, and Grigorian took the stoppage win.
Backstage afterwards he restated his belief that he would become lightweight champion this year. Grigorian has had three fights with lightweight champion Sitthichai in his career, one of them a title fight in December, and each time has lost a decision.
âNext time it will be different, I am going to do things differently. Maybe be more aggressive, pin him down, but maybe also wait and make him come to me. I have been thinking about it. He likes to counter so maybe I won't move on him, I will make him move on me,â said the Armenian.
