By Per Ake Persson
Copenhagen, Denmark - WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus (27-0) retained her titles with an easy win over outclassed German challenger - mandatory for IBF - Jennifer Retzke (15-2-1). Retzke, it must be said, was strong, willing, brave and kept trying and it made for a messy fight with lots of wrestling and holding on the inside. Braekhus dominated every round though and won on scores of 100-90 twice and a strange 98-92 - a scoring that is very generous to the challenger.
Tim-Robin Lihaug (9-1) won the vacant WBO Youth super middleweight title with a points win over Georgian Beroshvili (13-4-2) after ten rounds of boxing. It was scored 97-93 twice and 99-91. Lihaug fought a careful, tactical fight as Beroshvili had dangerous hooks from both hands but especially the left. This made for a rather slow paced fight with little drama. Beroshvili scored well in the mid-rounds but Lihaug´s better conditioning and better overall boxing won it for him.
Norwegian light heavyweight Alexander Hagen (5-1) outscored Czech Karel Horejeck (2-1) over six intense but messy rounds of boxing. Hagen was credited whith a knockdown in the third when a left hook to the body that looked low caused Horejeck to go down. The Czech had a strong final round when he rattled Hagen with short hooks. At the end it was scored 60-53, 59-54 and 57-56.
Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin (8-0) stopped Croatian Vjekoslav Bajic (8-8) at 0.01 of the second of a scheduled eight-rounder. Wallin hurt and floored his opponent with a southpaw left to the body midway through the first. Bajic got up but took a beating for the rest of the round and retired in his corner.
The Swedish Princess, Klara Svensson (15-0) retained the WBC interim super lightweight title with a unanimous points win after ten two minute rounds over German/Italian Lucia Morelli (18-5). It was a matador vs. bull fight but for long spells the bull, Morelli, just stood there covering up as Svensson kept her distance for the entire fight. Morelli looked stunned early in the fourth and put up a disappointing performance - but it must also be said the Svensson has improved a lot since Joey Gamache took over as trainer. It was scored 100-90, 100-91 and 99-91.
Danish middleweight Abdul Khattab (8-0) outscored tough Frenchman Laurent Ferra (16-19-4) over eight fast paced rounds of boxing. Ferra kept coming but Khattab kept scoring with good counters and was too quick for his opponent. It was scored 80-72 on all cards.
Middleweight Andreas Lynggard won his pro debut with a four round unanimous decision over Czech Michal Vosyka (2-14-1). The judges had it all 40-36 and one couldn´t argue with that. Lynggaard dominated the fight and showed quick hands.
Cruiserweight Steffen Andersen (6-0) had his first fight since 1998 and knocked out soft looking German Ralf Sawetskyi (4-8-1) with a left hook to the liver 2.06 of the second. It was scheduled for four. Andersen was back in 98 a superwelter but have pumped a lot of iron since then.
English welterweight Garvey Kelly (2-0) outscored Gergo Vari (14-8-1) over six. Ít was scored 60-54 twice and 60-53 in this no knockdown, little drama affair. Vari, from Hungary, was out to survive and did so in good fashion. Kelly had George Groves´ trainer Paddy Fitzpatrick in his corner.
Undefeated Irishman Craig Cummings (5-0) opened Sauerland Promotion´s big show at the Falconercenter in Copenhagen tonight with a unanimous decision after six one sided rounds against Hungarian Norbert Szekeres (16-37-3). It was scored 60-54 twice and 60-51. Cummings dominated the action all the way but couldn´t hurt his opponent. Szekeres was swollen and bloody at the end and showed heart in hanging in there until the end.
