By Geno McGahee
Denis Lebedev, 32-2, 23 KO’s, easily outpointed Mike Wilson, 19-1, 8 KO’s, en route to a wide unanimous decision by scores of 117-111 and 119-109 (twice). From the beginning, Wilson could not find a way to land on the former cruiserweight kingpin. On paper, Wilson did not belong in the ring with Lebedev and that’s how it played out, but he did show a lot of heart despite the disparity in talent.
Lebedev did a basic clean sweep of the rounds but he had issues with the height and reach of Wilson. Even though he was dominating, he didn’t find the way in to sustain an attack and stop Wilson and that may be a sign that father time and the damage he’s suffered in his long career have caught up with him.
The fight was a very long and boring dance and does little to help promote Lebedev as a big attraction. There won’t be much demand for him to face Oleksandr Usyk off this performance.
