Energie Verbund-Arena, Dresden, Sachsen, Germany - Robert Stieglitz (45-3, 26KOs), defending his WBO super middleweight title for the first time since reclaiming the title in March from Arthur Abraham, won a ten round technical decision over Yuzo Kiyota (23-4-1, 21KOs). The fight was initally believed to be a TKO victory for Stieglitz but then it became clear the fight was stopped due to a unintentional foul, which caused the cut on the challenger's left eye a few rounds earlier. The scores were 99-90, 100-89, 99-90.
It wasn't Kiyota's skills or punch that carried him on in the fight but his spirit and wild tactics. Kiyota was clinching all way through, hugged and held his opponent, looked to make slams and use an arsenal of illegal punches. Stieglitz, not a newcomer into the world of dirty tricks, responded accordingly but the Japanese challenger was much more resilient in this department. He was deducted a point by the referee in the fifth for hitting on the break. He was also being stalked from the fourth round, all around the ring by a better boxer in Stieglitz but took the punishment well.
Stieglitz was cut over his left eye somewhere in rounds six through eight. His cut worsened with every fought round, and Kiyota, while still being very game, was twice examined by the ringside physician. When another cut - this time over the right eye - appeared on Kiyota's face, the bout was halted for good.
It seemed the stoppage was due, as there were no visible head clashes between the two, but the other verdict was announced.
