In the final bout of the evening prior to the main event, 26-year old Russian Middleweight Matt Korobov (6-0, 5 KO), fighting out of St. Petersburg, Florida, was placed in a prime spot on the card. Given the advantage of a full Garden crowd for maximum exposure, he provided the heavy hands desired to have the locals at full volume for the main event. The 2008 Olympian and two-time former World Amateur champion captured a workmanlike unanimous decision over 28-year old Loren Myers (7-6, 2 KO) of Fresno, California.

The southpaw Korobov, 162, came out with hard lead right hooks right away. The same shot, as a hook or jab, landed at will throughout the first as the outclassed Myers, 160, could do little more than cover up, sporadic token offense displayed for pride alone. Korobov stayed at a measured pace in the second, landing single rights and lefts to control the action without pressing to hard for an early finish. To his credit, Myers took some stiff shots and simply pressed forward.

In the third, with the pattern of the bout little changed, Myers found an opening for offense at the halfway point as Korbov backed into the ropes, landing some good stuff to the body. While Korobov stayed ahead of him, Myers finished the round with another hard launch of shots, finishing with a landing left to the face of Korobov.

Emboldened, Myers charged out to start the fourth but found Korobov more active and accurate in the early going than he had been in the third. Myers would have another brief flash for his home highlight reel, briefly causing a step back from Korobov on a hard right hand and finishing working the body along the ropes. It was not enough for the win but the Central California underdog could be proud of his trip boxing’s most hallowed ground, becoming the first man to extend Korobov the distance.

The final scores came in at an easy, unanimous 40-36 for the Russian.