In Good Rumble

By Per-Ake Persson

August 25, Schwerin, Germany:

Juergen Braehmer, 41-2, retained the EBU lightheavy title and added the WBO Int´l belt to his collection with a unanimous decision over unheralded Italian Stefano Abatangelo, 17-3-1. Few had expected Abatangelo to last more than a few rounds against the vastly more experienced German and it seemed as Braehmer was holding back in the first few rounds to give his hometown crowd some entertainment. But as it was Abatangelo hung in there, doing his best, smothering his southpaw opponent giving him no room to work and then scored with wild right hooks. Braehmer kept trying but seemed to lose his concentration and timing as the fight continued. Abatangelo had a point deducted in the fifth for punching after break and both were cut after an accidental clash of heads in the fourth and the Italian got a second cut after another headclash in the eighth. Stefano bled from the nose as well but that was from Braehmer´s punches. At the end it was scored 119-108 twice which looked generous to the champion and a third scor of 115-111 which looked generous to the challenger. I had it 117-110. Overall it was not a fight to remember. Up until last week the next step for Braehmer seemed to be a fight for the WBO title but that is up in the air now that seemingly invincible Sergey Kovalev is champ.

King Arthur Abraham, 37-4, won the vacant WBO I/C supermiddle title with a unanimous decision over Namibian Willbeforce Shihepo, 20-7, after twelve rounds of boxing. The no knockdown affair was scored 1116-112, 116-113 and 117-111. Abrahm won fair enough but wasn´t impressive. -Look at his face, he´s asleep, shouted one ringsider but that was to exaggerate more than a little. Abraham was awake but failed to put his punches together and when he did connect his opponent took the punches well. Shihepo had his moments in the fourth and fifth when he seemed to rattle the ex-WBO champ with right hooks but Abraham came back in the sixth and was overall the better man - even if it must be said he was far from his best.

Kubrat "Cobra" Pulev, 18-0, retained the IBF Int´l heavyweight title and more importantly won this IBF eliminator for the mandatory spot with a unanimous decision over Tony "the Tiger Thompson, 38-4. Pulev won on scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 118-110. I had it 116-112 for the Bulgarian. It began as a close, tense, tactical with Thompson´s probing southpaw jab against Pulev´s steady pressure. However, by the third Pulev began to take over using his speed, jab and good right hand to get the upper hand. It seemed as if Thompson would cave in under the steady pressure but instead the American came back in the seventh working hard on the inside - and like most German-trained fighters Pulev isn´t good at infighting and resorted to holding and even appeared to be under pressure from Thompson´s hard hooks downstairs. But the by the ninth Thompson appeared to tire and he in the eleventh it seemed as if he was content to last the distance. The crowd cheered the winner and Tony, well, he didn´t just lose the fight, he even removed his trunks and cup protector and walked around in the ring in his underwear. The winner will now face Wladimir Klitschko but when is a very open question.

Tyrone Zeuge, 9-0, outscored tough Brit Nathan King, 13-20, over eight and won a wide unanimous decision. It was scored 79-73 twice and 78-74. Zeuge boxed on the outside moving well scoring with right hand counters as King kept coming. Zeuge might face Italian veteran Lorenzo Di Giacomo next. Both men came in just over the supermiddle limit.

Lightheavies Dustin Dirks and the Czech Tomas Adamek battled to a split draw after eight rounds of boxing. It was scored 76-75 Dirks, 77-75 Adamek and 76-76. Adamek landed a good right in the fourth but then turned away from the action with bad cuts over and under the right eye. Adamek received a standing eight count but continued to outwork Dirks in the remaining rounds. Dirks looked at times rather lethargic and the fight slipped out of his hands. Adamek looked like a clear winner at the end - but got a draw. I had it 78-74 for the Czech.

In the show opener of Sauerland´s big show at the Kongress - und Sporthalle undefeated lightheavy Enrico Koelling, 9-0, showed his class in stopping Austrian Haris Causevic, 8-1, in three one-sided rounds. The Austrian, bleeding badly from the nose, soaked up a bad beating and referee Oliver Brien told Causevic and his corner after the second the fight would be stopped if Haris didn´t do better - he didn´t and it was stopped 19 seconds into third. It was scheduled for eight.

By  Per-Åke Persson