Super-middleweight contender Pavel Silyagin maintained his undefeated status by securing a dominant eight-round unanimous decision victory over veteran Carlos Gongora at the IBA Pro 5 event held in Brest, Belarus.
Competing for the first time in 2025, Silyagin (16-0-1, 7 KOs) delivered a strong performance against the experienced Ecuadorian. He effectively utilized his size and reach advantages, scoring points consistently from a distance to earn an impressive win.
At 35 years old, Gongora (23-4, 17 KOs) is clearly past his prime, yet Silyagin`s showing was still noteworthy. The fighter from Novosibirsk dictated the pace of the bout from start to finish, repeatedly landing straight punches on the cautious Gongora through his southpaw guard.
The difference in athleticism was evident early on, with Silyagin`s sharp left jab providing a clear contrast to Gongora`s more labored and forced attempts.
In the second round, a short left hook from Silyagin briefly threatened to open up Gongora`s defenses, but the seasoned left-hander managed to withstand the subsequent attack.
Nearly five years removed from his surprising career-boosting win over Ali Akhmedov, the visibly worn Gongora found success only in fleeting moments throughout the fight. He struggled significantly with Silyagin`s jab and control of distance. While Gongora did land his straight left hand for the first time in the third round, it did little to deter the counter-offense from the Russian.
The middle rounds unfolded in a similar fashion, with Silyagin controlling the center of the ring and setting the tempo. He pushed Gongora back with combinations of straight shots and comfortably evaded Gongora`s increasingly rare responses.
Towards the end of the sixth round, a solid straight right hand appeared to cause Gongora some trouble, though Silyagin was unable to capitalize fully. Reflecting on the fight, the 31-year-old might feel he neglected targeting the body of the older fighter and perhaps became somewhat predictable with his attacks at times.
Despite this, Silyagin saw out the remainder of the contest with minimal difficulty, arguably winning the seventh and eighth rounds more decisively than the initial six.
There was no dramatic finish from either boxer. Silyagin emerged as the clear and deserving winner when the final bell rang. In retrospect, he might believe a stoppage was possible had the fight been scheduled for ten rounds or if he had attacked Gongora`s body more. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for Silyagin under the guidance of IBA Pro General Director, Al Siesta.
Gongora`s obvious relief at the sound of the final bell, however, speaks volumes about his current position in the 168lb division. A fighter once considered a dark horse in the super-middleweight class appears to have reached the end of his competitive journey.
