Nykobing Falster, Denmark - It wasn't easy and it wasn't pretty but local hero Kem Ljungqvist (14-0) won the vacant WBC International bridgerweight title with a unanimous decision over Swiss boxer Benoit Huber (8-3).
After ten hard-fought rounds of boxing the judges had it 98-92 twice and 97-93. Huber, shorter and lighter, swung wildly and Ljungqvist, a tall southpaw, had problems finding the range and kept walking into stiff counters. The Dane, cut over both eyes and on the nose, worked hard though, kept coming and wore down his stubborn opponent and was a clear winner at the end.
Middleweight Jacob Porsgaard (4-0) easily knocked out Bosnian Nehrudin Cikaric (1-5) in the second round of a mismatch. Cikaric was swung wildly, was off balance and simply couldn't fight at all. Porsgaard took his time then floored his opponent twice for a ko win at 1.14.
Heva Sharif (5-0) stopped inept Bosnian Jasmin Mahalbasic (1-5) in the very first round. Sharif came out fast while Mahalbasic didn't and he soaked up a bad beating along the way. He retired himself at one point but got a standing eight count instead and the fight continued for too long. The second time Mahalbasic retired the referee counted him out. The time 1.11.
Sharif was a very late sub for Frank Madsen, who in turn was a sub for Haris Dzindo.
French heavyweight Wilfried Florentin made his professional debut and stopped overweight Georgian veteran Soso Abuladze 1.11 into the second round. Abuladze soaked up a beating during the short fight, bled badly from the nose and was down in the first as well.
Florentin is licensed in Luxembourg as he is suspended for three years in France for his part in a brawl where he punched a 60-year old man. The first year is supposed to be "tough" where he isn't allowed to fight (at least not in a boxing ring) at all. The suspension began from what I was told April 22. However, everyone seems to look the other way in this case (including the French Federation).
