Abraham new WBO supermiddleweight champion

By Per-Ake Persson

[Arthur Abraham] won the WBO supermiddle title with a unanimous decision over defending champion [Robert Stieglitz]. It was scored 116-112 twice and 115-113 for Abraham, who proved to be too strong for Stieglitz, who finished the fight with three or four cuts and a badly swollen face.

All cuts were ruled to have been caused by legal punches but it seems more like they were was caused by headclashes in the many messy infights during the fight.
Stieglitz had the edge in speed and seemed to be able to outpunch Abraham but when Arthur opened up in the fourth he shook Stieglitz and from then on he dictated the pace of the fight. Stieglitz was stunned in the fifth but came through the round as Abraham couldn´t keep the pressure up. In the ninth Stieglitz connected with a powerful right but Abraham was only momentarily shaken, covered up and survived the round. In the final round Abraham coasted and allowed Stieglitz to outwork him.