March 23, Magdeburg, Germany – [Robert Stieglitz], 44-3, regained the WBO supermiddle title with a fourth round retirement win over defending champion [Arthur Abraham], 39-4, who was retired with a badly swollen left eye. Stieglitz came out fast and outworked the champion who as usual covered up against the ropes. In the it was more of the same but then Abraham tried to get into it but was late in the round nailed by a right and one could tell by the way he held on it was trouble for real and one could see his left swelling. In the third Abraham fought as if the fight was lost but tried at the end to get into but Stieglitz could sense victory. Referee Michael Ortega also deducted a point from Abraham for holding, At the bell for the fourth trainer Ulli Wegner remained in the ring and appeared to call in the ringside physician, who was no other than Walter Wagner, who in the first fight allowed Abraham to fight with a broken jaw against Edison Miranda. But this time there was no return and Abraham was retired. If he can come again remains to be seen.

 

 

[Robert Helenius] outscored [Michael Sprott] over ten in an non-title heavyweight encounter but failed to shine against a tricky and experienced opponent. It was scored 98-93 twice and 97-93. Helenius was effective with his jab but his right hand was missing and Sprott was able to get through with punches Robert should have been able to avoid. It´s obvious that Helenius isn´t back to what he was before injuring his right hand and Robert confirmed problems with the hand but said the shoulder is ok. Helenius is now 19-0 while Sprott dipped to 37-20 and with more fire he might have pulled it off.

 

Czech former WBO and EBU jr middle champ [Lukas Konecny] moved up to middle and won the vacant WBO Euro title with a unanimous technical decision over Frenchman [Karim Achour] after a rather drab fight with no highlights. The fight was stopped in the 12th and final round with Konecny, cut after an accidental headclash in the second, and again cut in the last round moving away unable to see. It was scored 118-110 twice and 116-112 for Konecny, who was superior but clearly disturbed by the cut and the second cut made it impossible for him to see properly.

 

[Edmund Gerber]'s career lives again after winning a close decision ov German-based Nigerian [Gbenga Oloukun] in a eight round heavyweight clash. It was scored 77-76 twice and 77-75 for the German while I had it 77-75 for Oloukun and judging by the boos most of the crowd agree with me. Gerber started well but then got cut on the bridge of the nose and lost the second. Oloukun was also cut on the nose and upped the pace in the fifth when he took over beating Gerber to the punch. Oloukun was clearly the stronger man down the stretch with Gerber tiring and losing spirit. In the eighth Edmund was a spent force and was hurt by a right upercut but hang on and was saved by the bell. It wasn´t the kind of win that makes one think Edmund Gerber, now 23-1, is the man for the future in the heavyweight division.

 

Supermiddle [George Groves], 18-0, stopped overmatched [Baker Barakat], record unknown, in the second of a scheduled eight-rounder. Barakat was hurt to the body and then floored by two right hooks to the head. He got up but the writing was on the wall and it was stopped at 2.20 with Barakat out on his feet against the ropes. Baker was hurt late in the first as well.

Barakat´s record - for what it is - is built on fighting on self promoted small gymshows many of which were no more than glorified sparring sessions if even that and he fights nothing like a 50+ fight veteran with mainly wins.

 

Mighty [Melissa McMorrow] from San Francisco, but promoted by SES in Magdeburg, retained the WIBF and WBO female flyweight titles with a split decision over German [Nadia Raoui]. The judges had it 99-91 and 96-94 for McMorrow and 96-94 for Raoui in what was a fastpaced fight with McMorrow fighting smarter and scoring more. I had it 97-93 for McMorrow.

 

Sauerland´s lightheavy prospect [Enrico Koelling] moved to 5-0 winning every round of his six rounder against tough Czech trialhorse [Josef Obeslo], 3-9-1. Kolling impressed with good combinations but could never hurt his opponent and this far Kolling has been forced to go the distance in all of his five profights.

 

Sauerland´s and SES´ show at the Getec Arena began with [Moritz Stahl], 4-0, knocking out Hungarian [Jozsef Orsos], exact record unknown, with a left hook to the body 1.09 into the first of a scheduled four rounder at lightheavy. Stahl is one of SES new prospects and so far so good four early endings to his credit.