By Alexey Sukachev
In the third installment of a Prizefighter-like series took place in Aarhus, Denmark, and was staged by Bigger’s Better Boxing Promotions, with a sensational result. Despite being the only familiar name in the card, German heavyweight Konstantin Airich (17-4-2, 14 KOs) failed to get the major money prize ($15,000) after being eliminated in the second round by the occasional runner-up and local favorite Ed Monso (3-2, 2 KOs).
Monso himself was stopped in just eighty seconds by debutant Niko Falin (3-0, 2 KOs) in the final.
Bigger’s Better series of tourneys is comprised of three elimination stages: four quarterfinals, two semifinals and the final. Eight fighters (notably not boxers!) are taking part in each competition. The majority of the participants aren’t professional boxers but renowned in other combat sports. Each fight is scheduled for three three-minute rounds.
Quarterfinals
In the opener, out-of-shape Polish Damian Trzcinski (1-0) delivered a nice performance outboxing fellow compatriot Tomasz Bala (0-1) and overcoming his resistance with higher precision and better punch output. All three judges had it unanimously for Trzcinski.
In a fight between two kick boxing specialists Niko Falin (1-0) of Germany proved to be a better boxer and a tougher guy than Lithuanian master Martynas Knyzelis (0-1). Knyzelis was too wide with his punches and ate a majority of the straight right hands from Falin, despited connecting with some leather of his own, to lose a decision over 3.
Local boy Ed Monso (2-1, 2 KOs) proved his age (35 years) isn’t relevant as he quickly tore Romanian cruiserweight Florin Nazare (2-4, 1 KO) with a punishing left hook to the liver in the very first round. Nazare was counted out. Both boxers took part in previous Bigger’s Better installments.
Konstantin Airich (17-3-2, 14 KOs), coming off a painful loss to Gbenga Oloukun in November, engaged into a fight with Belgian Vladimir Zelent (4-1, 3 KOs), felt him out in the first, bloodied his nose and finished Zelent off with a crushing right hook to the whiskers in the second.
Semifinals
Both Niko Falin (2-0, 1 KO) and Damian Trzcinski (1-1) lit up the crowd with a fascinating two-way brawl in the first round of their semifinal collision. More powerfully built Falin came out as the winner at the very end by putting the Pole down with a barrage of punches and then ending all matters with a big right hand after the initial knockdown.
In the best battle of the night, Ed Monso (3-1, 2 KOs) proved that ring experience and specific boxing skills are sometimes not enough to overcome a sheer determination and size disadvantage. Monso outscored Airich to a split decision in a wild and entertaining fight. The first one-and-a-half rounds were in Dane’s favour as he landed his punches on Airich time and again both to the head and to the stomach. Despite being slightly wobbled Airich (17-4-2, 14 KOs) came back in the final round to give fatigued Monso a severe beating. However, that wasn’t enough to convince the judges. Interestingly, Airich is also listed as a participant of the first ever international installment of the famous Prizefighter series which will be held on May 7 in England.
The Final
Niko Falin (3-0, 2 KOs) did what he had to do in stopping tired and injured Monso (3-2, 2 KOs) in the first round to become the sensational victor of the tournament. Monso had injured his right leg (possibly a knee) already in Airich fight. It let him down at 1:20 of the very first round after the Dane was hit hard by a left hook from the German. Monso fell down, got up at the count of five but was unable to continue due to a severe pain in his leg.