Ivanovski, a 25 year old who weighed 195 pounds, began the fight cautiously, pawing with his jab. The 38 year old Khan came out as a southpaw and switched stances the entire fight, mostly because of faulty balance rather than strategic adjustments.
In fact, Khan seemed to be limping the entire fight. The apparent injury badly affected the California-based Pakistani’s movement. He lunged with his shots and held Ivanovski like a college girlfriend. Daniel continuously snapped back Khan’s head. Several times, the Israeli threw a beautiful short left hook that Khan couldn’t anticipate. He also had crisp straight rights down the middle and crunching overhand rights around the guard.
Ivanovski dominated the third round and the beginning of the fourth. His combinations were varied and clever. He threw a straight right-left hook combo. He changed levels, targeting the body more as the fight progressed. In that third round, he moved laterally better, which opened up avenues for his big shots. Khan “The Brave” showed immeasurable heart and an iron chin to withstand the onslaught. His face was tomato red by the end.
Daniel’s performance wasn’t flawless, however. He let Khan hit him too much early. Except for the third, he stayed in front of Khan, failing to utilize angles. Most importantly, he allowed Khan to constantly hold. That not only thwarted Ivanovski’s attack, but enabled the heavier Khan, who weighed 203 pounds and was round in the midsection, to use his mass in an attempt to wear down the younger man.
Nevertheless, it was a commanding performance for Daniel Ivanovski, who is now 6-0 with 4 KOs. All three judges, The Jewish Boxing Blog, and the two announcers scored the contest 40-36 for Daniel. Khan falls to 1-1.
One announcer, former world champion Steve Cunningham, has sparred with Daniel. “I’m very impressed with Ivanovski,” Cunningham said after the fight. “I like what he’s done against a very awkward fighter in Khan.”