Konstantin Airich won the vacant IBF intercontinental heavyweight championship in front of 1,500 fans at the Mehrzweckhalle Obertraubling Friday night. The “Sandman” made quick work of Varol Vekiloglu knocking out the “Relentless Lion“ in the first minute.
“I know that Konstantin hits hard but to be honest I didn’t even see the knockout punch”, said promoter Ahmet Oner. “However, Konstantin won the title and will have to defend it against tougher opposition now. We are planning to bring back Odlanier Solis this year. I think him and Airich could be an entertaining fight. We will see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
“I am very happy and proud to be the new IBF i/c champion”, says Airich. “This title means a lot to me. I am ready to defend it against whoever crosses my way.”
In the co-feature of the show televised by Eurosport former cruiserweight contender Alexander Petkovic scored a controversial disqualification win over rugged journey man Cisse Salif. Pektovic who didn’t appear to be in any shape for the fight seemed to control the first couple of rounds but got caught by a powerful straight right in the fourth which sent him to the canvas. Salif seemed a little to cautious in the follow up attacks to actually finish his opponent but knocked Petkovic down a second time in the fourth. In the fifth referee Manfred Kuechler deducted two points from Salif for questionable low-blows. Cisse came back in the sixth knocking down Petkovic a third time before being disqualified for yet another debatable low-blow.
“This wasn’t a good fight and it wasn’t a good ending either”, said promoter Oner. “Alexander Petkovic cannot be happy with his performance and with this win. Cisse did well and connected with some nice shots. I couldn’t see if some of them were too low or not. The referee decided this way and we have to live with it. Although there is a bad taste to it.”
On the undercard unbeaten Italian lightweight Massimilano Ballisai added another win to his record by stopping Ravil Mukhamadiarov in the seventh. German heavyweight prospect Boris Estenfelder scored a unanimous decision win over Ladislav Kovarik from the Czech Republic.
Local hero Uensal Airk won the GBA international super middleweight title by beating Austrian journey man Thomas Hengstberger.
Bernard Hopkins & Golden Boy Promotions To Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month With Pink Corner Pad Donation
Los Angeles, October 14, 2011 – As numerous individuals and organizations in the sports world have done this October, Bernard Hopkins and Golden Boy Promotions will do their part to support Breast Cancer Awareness month during Saturday’s night’s “Believe It or Not!: Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson” Light Heavyweight World Championship HBO Pay-Per-View® broadcast by painting the ring’s usually-white neutral corner pads pink and donating one of them to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® so that the organization can display its website URL.(www.komen.org) on the pad.
Hopkins, whose mother Shirley succumbed to the disease at age 47, and Golden Boy Promotions, whose President Oscar de la Hoya also lost his mother to breast cancer in her early adulthood, selected the charity in lieu of sponsorship dollars usually received for ring asset signage.
“My mother instilled in me the discipline and courage that I present every time I step in the ring,” said Hopkins. “She was courageous throughout her battle with cancer and having that pink corner pad in the neutral corner reminding me of her courage will help me throughout my fight Saturday night against Chad. I loved my mother very much and it is a special tribute to do this for her too.”
“Breast cancer has touched both my life and Bernard’s life to the core in losing our mothers to the disease,” said De La Hoya. “Susan G. Komen is a great organization and we are honored to lend them our support by donating our neutral corner pad to their cause.”
Komen founder and CEO Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker thanked de la Hoya and Hopkins for their support. “These two men remind us that too many mothers are still dying of breast cancer, and we hope that this effort will remind mothers, sisters, daughters and aunts to get their mammograms and take action against this disease,” she said.
“Believe It Or Not!: Hopkins vs. Dawson” is a 12-round bout for Hopkins’ WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Championship Titles taking place on Saturday, Oct. 15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. In addition to this championship main event showdown, the televised pay-per-view undercard will also feature Antonio DeMarco vs. Jorge Linares in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC Lightweight World Title, Kendall Holt vs. Danny Garcia in 12-round bout for the vacant NABO Junior Welterweight Title and Paulie Malignaggi vs. Orlando Lora in a 10-round welterweight bout. DeMarco vs. Linares is presented in association with Teiken Promotions.
Weights: Kimbo Slice vs. Tay Bledsoe
GRAND ISLAND, NE (Oct. 14, 2011) – The official weigh-in for tomorrow’s “Rumble In The Heartland,” featuring Kimbo Slice, was held today. Below are the official weights:
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (1-0, 1 KOs), Coral Springs, FL 244 LBS.
vs
Tay Bledsoe (2-3, 2 KOs), Omaha, NE 209 LBS.
Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (12-0-1, 8 KOs), Washington D.C. 247 LBS.
vs.
Clinton Boldridge (9-16-1, 7 KOs), St. Joseph, MO 242 LBS.
Brandon “Pit Bull” Quintana (3-7, 3 KOs), Kearney, NE 135 LBS.
vs.
Sook Suyajuck (2-6-1, 2 KOs), Kansas City, MO 134 LBS.
Abel “Truth Serum” Perry (15-5, 7 KOs), Colorado Springs, CO 158 LBS.
vs.
Patrick Thompson (17-16-1, 7 KOs), Lincoln, NE 159 LBS.
Reuben Rodriguez (3-6, 0 KOs), Kearney, NY 163 LBS.
vs.
Sean “Hollywood” Wilson (5-6, 1 KO), Cambridge, NE 166 LBS.
Fighter Quotes
Kimbo Slice: “The fight will only last as long as he can endure the pain.”
Tay Bledsoe: “It’s going to be a great night and I’m going to do my thing. I know (Kimbo) is a big guy and hits really hard. You’ll have to come out (tomorrow) and see what I have planned.”
Maurice Byarm: “I trained extremely hard for this fight and I am a fighter. When I get in the ring fans get a fight every time”
Promoters: Gary Shaw Productions & Legacy Communications
Tickets are priced at $220.00, $138.00, $45.00, $29.50 and $19.00 (plus fees) and available to purchase at the Heartland Events box office (Monday-Friday, 8 AM-4:30 PM), www.HeartlandEventsCenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Doors open at 6 PM with the first bout scheduled for 7 PM. For additional information go online to www.GaryShawProductions.com or www.HeartlandEventsCenter.com.