Suffering the first knockdown of his professional career is "nothing terrible" for undefeated heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov, just a new experience, he said Sunday.
Russia's WBC USNBC champion Abdusalamov saw off Jameel "Big Time" McCline of the United States in Moscow on Saturday with a second-round knockout.
The American journeyman, 42, sent Abdusalamov to the canvas within 30 seconds of the start, but the Russian recovered well and ended the fight with a stinging jab to McCline's face 1 minute 27 seconds into the second round that left the American sprawled on the floor.
"It's nothing awful. Boxing is boxing," Abdusalamov said.
"So now I know what a knockdown is. That's not happened in my career before."
McCline's stinging blow came as no surprise, the Russian said.
"He's always hit well with his fight and I was ready for that. Just he caught me at the moment when I getting ready to attack."
The defeat was the 13th of McCline's career, while Abdusalamov continued his streak of knockout wins in all 13 of his professional bouts.
