LIVERPOOL. England -Young heavyweight Leo Atang was taken the distance for the first time by Victor Chvarkou at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena.
The 19-year-old prospect has been billed as the 'future of the heavyweight division' by his promoters Matchroom Boxing but, in the here and now, struggled to make a dent in his veteran foe from Belarus. Atang, 6-0 (5 KOs), had made light work of his previous five opponents, dispatching them all inside the distance, but was taken the full six rounds by the 40 year old Chvarkou. The score on the referee Steve Grey's scorecard read 59-54 in favour of Atang.
Atang had been guilty of rushing his work in his last contest, but was relaxed as the pair met center ring following the opening bell. Atang pawed his left hand jab into the face of Chvarkou, 6-33 (3 KOs), before thumping in his right hand, but the experienced Chvarkou covered up well. Atang continued to work away in the second but just couldn't land a telling blow on his opponent. Atang would herk and jerk as he came in, but his right hand would slip past the head of the Watford, England-based Kazakh, who saw much of Atng's work coming.
There were signs that Atang may get his man out of there in the third when he stunned Chvarkou with a right hand, but again Chvarkou was able to use his experience to see him through. It seemed Atang was getting frustrated in the fourth after Chvarkou again avoided much of the heavy punishment coming his way. Atang was winning clearly, but he just couldn't make a dent required to force the stoppage.
Atang continued his pressure in the fifth but again Chvarkou was too smart. The Belarusian covered up well in the corner and took much of the punishment coming his way on the gloves as Atang desperately attempted to land something telling. Atang seemed content with going the distance as the sixth session got underway, there was no longer a hurry in his work but he continued to thump away at Chvarkou, Atang landed much of his work to the body, as well as glancing blows to the head, and had to settle for a win on points as the final bell sounded. Atang seemed frustrated at being taken the distance by Chvarkou but will have learned more from that contest than his previous five combined.
