By Per Ake Persson: Septermber 5, Karlstad, Sweden: Former heavyweight champ “Merciless” Ray Mercer had enough left to beat “the Dutch Sonny Liston” Richel Hersisia on a majority decision over six two minute rounds. It was scored 59-55 for Mercer from two Swedish judges while Belgian Daniel Van de Wiele came up with 57-57. Mercer controlled the action behind a heavy jab in the first rounds and seemed to shake Hersisia in the second. The Dutchman had good spells in the fourth and fifth when Mercer looked every bit a faded 47-year old. In the final round Ray went for the body and Hersisa didn´t like that one bit and with the strong finish Mercer won 58-56 on my card..
Florida-based Swedish heavy Attila Levin made his Swedish debut as a pro and won over big Russian Evgeny Orlov on scores of 39-37 twice and 40-36 over 4×3. Levin looked good in the first two but then faded and was under pressure in the last.
Former cruiser champ Alfred “Ice” Cole returned and won a split call over Joey “Minnesota” Abell over six-two minute rounds. It was scored 58-57 twice for Cole and 58-56 Abell. Joey finished with a bad cut in a tough fight that saw both shaken at one time or another. Cole knew more than Abell but didn´t have enough left to show it while Joey, now trained by Michael Moorer, showed a lot of improvement but as Moorer said, could have done more.
Danish welter Allan Vester boxed his way to safety first win over Tanzanian Pascal Bruno. Vester looked good in the fourth and last round but other than it was another day in the office.
Anna Ingman won the WBC and WPBF Int´l titles for women over six-two minute rounds with a unanimous decision over Olivia Fonseca. It was scored 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55.
The Nordic Nightmare, Finnish-Swedish heavy Robert Helenius outscored German Ergin Solmaz over four winning on 40-35 on all cards. Solmaz took a standing eight count in the third and was hurt in the last.
Norwegian superbantam Reidar Walstad beat Bulgarian Iordan Vasilev over four. It was scored 39-37, 40-36 and 40-37 but Vasilev, the bigger man, made Reidar work hard for his victory.
Philadelphia´s Julius Edmonds lost a split decision to Swedish welter Cliff Soukka over four. It was scored 39-37 twice for Soukka and 39-37 for Edmonds, who did well and seemed to have nicked it.
News: Arena Box Promotion have now announced the complete program for their show in Cuxhaven, Germany, September 12. WBC Int´l welter champ Selcuk Aydin derfends against once touted – still capable Russian Marat Khuzeev. Cuban heavy Odlanier Solis fights Chad Van Sickle, at middleweight his compatriot Erislandy Lara is in against Latvian Denis Alekseev. Steffen Kretschmann returns from layoff due to injuries and square off against American Otis Tisdale.
The German Oak, Timo Hoffmann is now officially on for the show in Barleben October 10. WBC Youth champ at jr welter Oliver Guettel headlines and defends the title against American Brandon Baue.