by Tamas Pradarics at ringside
Imre Szello (17-0, 10 KOs) successfully defended his WBO Inter-Continental belt for the first time by a fifth round technical knockout over countryman Tamas Toth (9-5-4, 5 KOs) on Saturday evening in Szekesfehervar, Hungary.
Szello took the control early on with his mobility and well-placed jabs and one-twos. Toth tried to close the gap but was too inactive to bother his undefeated foe.
In round two Toth got cut on the bridge of his nose by a punch and blood immediately started to cover his face. He kept coming but was unable to do anything with Szello’s rhythm and accuracy.
During the fourth stanza legendary referee Micky Vann called the ring physician to check the gash on the challenger’s nose. He than let the bout continued.
Toth was like a fighting bull who never even thought of giving up against his more skillful and athletic opponent. Blood covered everything in the ring when Vann stepped in two minutes into the fifth and stopped the one-sided affair.
With the win Szello also got the Hungarian title at cruiserweight, although he is expected to further concentrate on his run on the WBO ranks where he currently stands at #10.
In the co-featured bout of the evening Jozsef Darmos (5-1-1, 5 KOs) unexpectedly stopped gutsy veteran Gyula Bozai (15-10-4, 11 KOs) in round seven.
Darmos was calm and relaxed during the bout and executed his game plan brilliantly against his willing opponent. Bozai gave his all through six in a fan friendly fight but was dropped heavily in the seventh. He rised only to get floored again, this time almost knocked through the ropes. Referee Bela Florian called it off without even counting.
Darmos is now the interim Hungarian titlist at cruiserweight.
Welterweight Balazs Torteli (12-1, 5 KOs) defended his version of the Hungarian title with a first round annihilation of Antal Racz (5-3, 4 KOs). The 24-year-old belt holder dropped his foe with a hard left uppercut to the midsection. Racz never fully recovered from the punch thus referee Bence Kovacs called a halt to the bout.
21-year-old prospect Ferenc Berki Jr decisioned Ferenc Szabo in six frames, Zoltan Kispal won by TKO over Imre Simon caused by injury and Renato Egedi shot out game Andrzej Sark over six in preliminary bouts.
The sold-out event was promoted by Felix Racz’s Felix Promotion and the main bouts were televised by National Sports Broadcaster, M4.
