10.09.05 – By Fabian Weber, www.boxing.de – On Saturday’s event, promoted by Universum, woman boxing phenomenon Regina Halmich scored another world title victory in what was her 50th professional fight. In front of 4.500 spectators at dm-arena of Karlsruhe, the world champion’s hometown, Halmich won a split decision over previously unbeaten Spaniard Maria Jesus Rosa in a heated and action-packed battle to successfully retain her WIBF flyweight title..
The 28-year-old Halmich held world titles in three different weight divisions and is undefeated since more than ten years. She upped her impressive record to 48-1-1 with 14 knockouts. Rosa, after her first world title fight, dropped to 19-1 with 4 knockouts.
The official scorecards where 98:92 and 96:94 in favor of Halmich, and one a 96:94 for Rosa.
“I’m glad that my 50th professional fight took place in my hometown”, Halmich said. “I got a lot of support from my fans and it was very helpful during this difficult fight. The people could see that there were two great athletes in the ring who tried to find out who was the better one. In the end my experienced prevailed. But it was a tough fight until the final bell.”
“I’m happy with my performance but of course not with the result”, Rosa commented. “I’m proud that I had the opportunity to challenger Regina Halmich. This was a great experience to me.”
Halmich intends to complete her boxing year 2005 with a rematch against American Elena Reid. Halmich and Reid fought to a controversial draw on September 11, 2004.
“Rosa was very offensiv and powerful and she worked very explosive at close range”, Halmich analyzed. “She kept me pretty busy. There are opponent who suit me better. But on the other side there were nights when I fought worse than tonight. I’m glad I was able to bring home my 50th fight with a decision victory.”
In the co-main of the evening Ukrainian power puncher Vladimir Virchis demolished Argentine Lisandro Ezquiel Diaz in the opening round in a slugfest of two heavyweight giants. Virchis, 19-0 (16), 111 kg, rolled all over Diaz, 12-6-1 (10), 108.5 kg, pinned his opponent against the ropes and unloaded bombs on his victim until the referee stopped the execution after two minutes of the fight.
By beating Diaz Virchis also claimed the WBO intercontinental title.
Vladimir Virchis had joined the Spotlight Boxing stable after knocking out prospect Taras Bidenko on March 29 in the final of twelve dramatic rounds. For the fans it was the perhaps most exciting heavyweight contest of the year seen in Germany.
Another knockout was scored at heavyweight by up and coming Spotlight fighter Egon Roth, 12-0 (11). The 25-year-old German knocked out Chris Sirengo from Kenia after three minutes of round two with a right cross to the chin. Egon’s 22-year-old brother Dieter Roth, 2-0 (1), a professional fighter at heavyweight as well, scored a unanimous decision over four rounds over Aleksandre Borhovs on the same card.
The fight between Halmich and Rosa was televised live in Germany by ZDF. Whenever the highly popular Halmich is fighting millions of housholds tune in.
All Results:
WIBF Flyweight Championship
Regina Halmich W10 Maria Jesus Rosa
(94:96, 98:92, 96:94)
WBO Int. Heavyweight Championship
Vladimir Virchis KO1 (2:00) Lisandro Ezequiel Diaz
Super Middleweight:
Dimitri Sartison W8 Sergey Karchenko
Heavyweight:
Egon Roth KO2 (3:00) Chris Sirengo
Bantamtweight:
Alesia Graf KO3 (1:42) Liliana Martinez
Heavyweight:
Diether Roth W4 Aleksandre Borhovs
WIBF Int. Featherweight Championship:
Ina Menzer W10 Damaris Muthoni Mwangi
(99:91, 100:90, 99:91)
Super Middleweight:
Lukas Wilaschek W6 Joseph Njoka Ngandu
Jr. Middleweight:
Matteo Sciacca TKO1 (2:24) Szabollcs Geregely