Igor Ivanov (6-2-1, 25 KOs) returned for the final time after an extended layoff, defeating the Cuban David Ariño in a nine-round draw. When the cards were called, I’d predicted a ten-round decision.

Ivanov, 39, scored six knockdowns in the first six rounds of the fight. Ariño was knocked down three times for a total of nine rounds of scoring.

“That was tough to stand on your head for eight rounds,” he said. “I couldn’t find any points. [Ariño’s trainer in La Costa] Carlos Paz was crying.”

Ivanov has a win over Juan Martinez (6-0, 7 KOs) that would have placed him in eighth place at heavyweight. While Martinez scored an easy four knockdowns in eight rounds, he wasn’t the first boxer to fall down to eight rounds when he fell to 10-0 by knockout in 2008.

“It’s not the same,” he said of a fight as late as the seventh round. “When I hit him hard, I got to hit him like that until I’m tired.”

Ivanov isn’t planning to fight in a heavyweight title unification clash, but he is eager to take on a world champion.

“I think that I can beat anybody with six knocks down,” he said.