Per Ake Persson: November 15, Duesseldorf, Germany: WBO I/C heavy champ Aleksander Dimitrenko retained the title with a third round knockout of challenger Luan Krasniqi in a true crossroads fight. It was fastpaced and exciting for as long as it lasted with the fired up Krasniqi dominating the action. Luan seemed to get Dimitrenko under some pressure in the second. In the third Aleksander, the bigger man, did better but it was still Krasniqi´s round.
Then Dimitrenko scored with a right, Krasniqi covered up and the Ukrainian threw a short left hook that landed to the liver of Luan, who took a step back, then sat down on one knee while Spanish referee Manuel Oliver Palomo counted him out. It was a clean end but also somewhat disappointing as the fight was still wide open. After two rounds it was scored 20-18 twice for Luan and 19-19. For Krasniqi this must the end while Dimitrenko most likely will be mandatory challenger for the WBO..
On the undercard supermiddle Dimitri Sartison showed no ill effects from the loss to Mikkel Kessler in June and stopped Brazilian Edison Francisco Guedes in three. Gusmyl Perdomo, a likely opponent for Kessler during 2009, impressed in stopping tough Frenchman Laurent Goury in four.
Russian heavy Dennis Boytsov outscored American Vinny Maddalone over eight in a matchup between a puncher and a slugger where neither was able get the advantage for long.
News:
It´s official (since a few days): WBA champ Nikolay Valuev defends the title against Evander Holyfield December 20 in Zurich in Switzerland. On the undercard EU heavy king Francisco Pianeta defends against Frenchman Yohan Duhaupas. Russian cruiser Jimmy Kapanov is in against Italian veteran Paolo Ferrara and jr middle prospect Dominik Britsch face Stefano Loriga. Danish supermiddle Mads Larsen may also fight on this show. Sauerland Event insist to Danish media that they are working towards a shot for Mads at IBF titleholder Lucian Bute.
The Kohl Diet reads the headline in German paper Bild Zeitung. In this Universum boss Klaus Peter Kohl makes it clear that Universum and Spotlight Boxing are cutting down in number of boxers partly to downsize but also to make space for new signings. Kohl also indicated that he will retire in two years with son-in-law Dietmar Poszwa taking over.
Big Polish heavy Mariusz Wach is in against even bigger Russian Evgeny Orlov November 21 in Grodzisk, Poland.
The Rematch, Natascha Ragosina vs Conjestina Achieng is on for November 28 in Magdeburg. SES have Ragosina´s sparringpartners Pia Porter and Maria LIndberg in supporting bouts. The Lindberg case appears to be coming to a close as she is now licensed by the BDB in Germany despite letters to the EBU from the Swedish Federation.
Former EBU champ and WBA challenger Sebastian Sylvester and Spaniard Ruben Diaz are co-challengers for the vacant EU middleweight title.
Belgian bantam Carmelo Ballone have been named official challenger by the EBU. Ballone was champ but the lost title to Ian Napa on a very close decision.
Tom Boxing Team in Poland will most likely promote in Bialystok December 14. Lightheavy Gregory Soszynski, jr welter Krzysztof Cieslak and probably lightweight veteran Dariusz Snarski headline.
WBO I/C welter champ Christian Bladt´s defence against Italian Sven Paris have been postponed from November 28 until December 19. Site remains Frosinone.