Cecilia keeps her titles in three rounds
By Per-Ake Persson
April 13, Fredrikshavn, Denmark: Cecilia Braekhus, 22-0, retained the WBA, WBO and WBC female welter titles with a third round tko over Mia St John, 47-15, in what proved to be a gross mismatch where St John was a sitting target as Braekhus moved in with heavy hooks to the body from both hands. In the third Braekhus scored with a big right to the head and St John was asked if she wanted to quit but said no and the onslaught continued until Braekhus landed with another right that shook St John - and then referee Stefano Carrozza moved in and stopped it at 1.38.
Polish cruiser Mateusz Masternak, 30-0, took a long time to get untracked in his WBC Int´l Silver title contest against Trinidad´s Sean Corbin, 15-4, but finally put it together for a stoppage at 1.01 into the ninth. Corbin was down in the eighth as well and both eyes were almost swollen shut at the time of the stoppage. Corbin was however off to a good start as Masternak looked unable to get anything on what on paper appeared to be a relatively easy opponent. The judges had it 79-72 twice and 80-71 for the Pole after eight.
Swedish lightheavy Erik Skoglund,16-0 (9) outscored teak tough Brit Luke Blackledge,13-1-1, over ten to win the vacant WBC Youth and WBO Youth I/C titles after a hardfought battle that began at a blistering pace with Skoglund on the verge of punching himself out. Blackledge, a tireless, durable fighter, came on strong in the middle rounds but then Erik came back and had the sharper punches. Blackledge was cut over right eye in the third. It was scored 96-94 twice and 97-93 for the Swede.
Jr middle Torben Keller, 7-0-1, outscored tough British journeyman Terry Carruthers, 13-15-6, over eight in the show closer. It was scored 80-72 and 78-74 twice for the Dane, who fought well against a difficult and awkward opponent but could never really put it together.
Jr light Rashid Kasseem, turned pro and knocked out Belorus Andrei Soldan at 1.10 of the first. Soldan was under pressure from the first bell, didn´t get to throw a punch while Kasseem must have landed with everything he threw. A left hook to the body ended matters with Soldan in pain on the floor with blood flowing out of his busted nose.
Danish cruiser Micki Nielsen, 7-0 (6) took apart Croatian Toni Visic, 7-11, for a stoppage at 2.41 of the fifth of a scheduled six-rounder. Nielsen showes improvement and worked behind a steady southpaw jab. Visic, a late sub, was down in the third and fading when hurt by a combination in the fifth. He staggered into the ropes and it was stopped.
Swedish lightheavy Oscar "the Golden Boy" Ahlin moved to 7-0 (7) by knocking out Norwegian Tim-Robin Lihaug, 3-1, at the end of the third of a scheduled four rounder. Ahlin had Lihaug down earlier in the round as well and in the second. Lihaug is pretty good but Ahlin shows the moves of a fighter destined for the big times. He´s trained by Tonton Semakala and Leif Carlsson.
-It was fun - as always, said Oscar afterwards with a big smile.
-We have never had anything like him in Sweden, stated Semakala, himself a good pro based in the US for a few years managed by no other than Michael Marley.
Former Olympian (London 2012) Anthony Yigit, Stockholm, Sweden, made his prodebut at welter at took Aliaksandr Abramenka, a durable survivor, and Abramenka took everything Yigit could dish out until he, defenceless, was stopped on his feet at 2.04 of the third. It was scheduled for four.
Yigit, a southpaw, showed exellent handspeed and variety in his boxing - but it must be noted that while he hit Abramenka with everything in the book he could never hurt his opponent.
Sauerland´s show at the Arena Nord began with a lightheavyweight clash between Simen Smaadal from Norway and Kristoffer Storm from Denmark. It was hardfought all the way with Smaadal the sharper puncher and better boxer while Sturm showed a big heart. Storm was cut over the right eye in the third and floored in the fifth. Smaadal came out for the sixth and final round as if he had it won but Storm, now bleeding from a cut around the left eye as well, gave it all he had and got Simen under pressure for an exciting finish. It was scored 58-55 twice and 59-54. Smaadal is now 5-0 (2) while Storm dipped to 1-1.
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