Souleymane Cissokho during a fight in 2018. -

STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP

The French Souleymane Cissokho, absent from the rings for almost a year and a half but still undefeated in the super-welterweight, succeeded in his return by defeating the Mexican Daniel Echevarria, by stop of the referee in the 6th round, Saturday in Dallas.

Faced with an opponent who appeared from below and suffering from the debates, Cissokho took his time and applied himself.

After four rounds, half the fight limited to eight, he then started to pick up the pace, hitting his opponent several times with his right.

He dropped it twice in the next round.

First on a big right at the temple, then on a new left aggression and… involuntary head butt which made his victim bleed.

Round N.6 saw the gap class grow a little, so much so that the referee did not hesitate to stop the confrontation, seeing Echevarria without gas or spring.

12 victories since the 2016 Olympics

“Today it didn't feel like it had been 16 months since I had boxed.

I'm happy with my performance, ”said Cissokho afterwards, sensitive to the applause of the audience in limited numbers in the American Airlines Center.

The bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio is now 12 victories in as many fights, including 9 before the limit.

Cissokho gets the 6th round TKO victory 🥊 pic.twitter.com/6U8WMjYGcZ

- DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 14, 2021

This aimed to put him back in the saddle, while his career came to a halt with the coronavirus.

He signed a contract at the end of 2019 with Matchroom, the management company of Englishman Anthony Joshua, WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion, led by Englishman Eddie Hearn, but without being able to honor him.

First injured in the hand, he had to forfeit a fight in Saudi Arabia during the evening of the Joshua-Ruiz II World Championship in December 2019. Then because of the Covid, he was unable to enter a ring. in 2020.

Aged 29, the former captain of the "Solid Team" (nickname of the Blues) at the Games, counts for only title that of champion of France in 2019. His ambition in the United States is obviously quite different, in a category of super-welterweight for the moment dominated by the formidable American Jermell Charlo.

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