By Alexey Sukachev
Darko Popivoda of Bali-Balkanboxing arranged a short but pretty eventful little tournament to entertain Montenegrin fight fans in Podgorica with two title bouts and three more non-title events. Luka Popovic served as a matchmaker. More than 5,000 fans were in attendance, and the show was covered live by the local cable channel.
In the main event of the night, rapidly rising knockout artist Dejan Zlaticanin (13-0, 10 KOs) added another victim to his ever-growing resume. Zlaticanin, 27, retained his WBC Mediterranean lightweight belt with a dominant victory over Spain-based Viet Hoang Sang Nguyen (25-6-1, 11 KOs). Nguyen has never been stopped in his lengthy career, but Zlaticanin was able to accomplish this feat by knocking him out in the fifth round.
In the co-feature, undefeated Predrag Radosevic (23-0, 8 KOs) acquired the vacant WBC International silver title with an easy win over dangerous Hungarian veteran Jozsef Matolsci (29-15, 20 KOs). Matolsci was floored in the second round, and both fighters were severely cut in the first half of the fight: Radosevic – in round six, and Matolsci – in round two. Scores were 119-110, 119-109 and 120-110 – all in favour of the Montenegrin.
The best local fighter around also shone on the fight night. WBC #7 super middleweight Nikola Sjekloca (20-0, 6 KOs) vaporized Chrisitan Pohle (7-7, 2 KOs) in the sixth with a major right hand. Next for Sjekloca is a defense of his WBC International title on July 15 in Berlin. “I’m sure he will get a chance to fight for the world title very soon”, assumed Popovic to yours truly.
Other results:
Bogdan Mitic (15-2, 8 KOs) UD 6 Mugurel Sebe (13-59-2, 3 KOs)
Milan Piperski (3-0) PTS 4 Daniel Pavelescu (0-9)