Rafal Jackiewicz: record, next fight and profile →
Poland - Former WBC/IBF cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (55-4-1, 38 KOs) continued his boxing career with a solid (for his age and wear&tear) decision win over fellow veteran Olanrewaju Durodola, who falls back to 27-6, 25 KOs.
Several mid-sized but well-packed events have taken its place across Europe this past weekend, some of them being held in Eastern European countries. There were several minor title fights among them but the focus was also set at three members of locally well-known Baysangurov boxing family.
It was rough, it was close, and it was very stressing at the end, but former two-time cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk utilized his diabolic "ninth life" to overcome previously undefeated contender Noel Gevor with a split nod in the main event of the show, co-promoted by KnockOut Promotions (Andrzej Wasilewski and Piotr Werner) and Babilon Promotions (Tomasz Babilonski).
PalaCarucci, Terracina, Italy - 44-year-old veteran Gianluca Branco (49-3-1, 23 KOs) overcame two knockdowns to once again capture EBU gold with a stoppage victory over Polish veteran Rafal Jackiewicz (46-12-2, 21 KOs),who injured his knee in the sixth and was unable to come out for the seventh round. Branco held the EBU crown at junior welterweight and back in 2010 he fought Matthew Hatton for the EBU belt at 147-pounds, but lost a twelve round unanimous decision. The biggest fight in Branco's career was in 2006, when he lost by a seventh round TKO to then WBO junior welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.
Veteran welterweights Gianluca Branco (48-3-1) and Rafal Jackiewicz (46-11-2) clash for the vacant EBU title on November 22 at a site to be announced in Italy with OPI 2000 promoting. Jackiewicz thus makes a quick return to boxing after a very brief career in MMA. As late as in August he was lined up to fight for the IBO belt in Germany vs Rico Mueller but pulled out, had a farewell to boxing fight but is now back.
Leonard Bundu (31-0-2) has relinquished the EBU welterweight title to participate in an IBF eliminator. The vacant title will be contested between Gianluca Branco (48-3-1) and Rafal Jackiewicz (46-11-2). Jackiewiez thus makes a quick return to boxing after leaving the game in August for a career in MMA. The EBU have announced that the date for purse bids expires October 2.
Amfiteatr, Miedzyzdroje, Poland - Former Roy Jones Jr's unjust victim Pawel Glazewski (23-2, 5 KOs), slowly building his career back up, effectively outpointed American import Rowland Bryant (18-4, 12 KOs) in a two-way action fight. Scores were: 79-73 (twice) and 77-76 - for Glazewski, who kicked off another promising run over the division. ----------------------- In a co-main event, southpaw light welterweight Michal Chudecki (10-0-1, 3 KOs) cruised to a wide decision over tough-as-nails Venezuelan Felix Lora (18-12-5, 9 KOs) in a ten-rounder.
Kopalnia Soli, Wieliczka, Poland - Former amateur standout and Felix Stamm's tournament winner Kamil Szeremeta (5-0) easily schooled fight veteran Daniel Urbanski (21-14-3, 5 KOs) over six one-sided rounds to get a unanimous decision in a battle of super middleweights. ----------------- Czech-based, Poland-developed Russian Ismail Teboev (7-5-1, 3 KOs) failed to avenge his 2011 loss to Robert Swierzbinski (12-2, 3 KOs). The Polish fighter outpointed Teboev unanimously over four.
Rafal Jackiewicz (42-11-2, 21 KOs) suffered yet another setback, as he was knocked out in the eleventh round by EBU welterweight champion Leonard Bundu (29-0-2, 10KOs). Jackiewicz was the European champion back in 2008/09 and looked to regain the crown before a hostile crowd at the Tendastrisce in Rome, Italy. It was a tough fight, but Bundu had the edge. The end came in the eleventh after Bundy landed a crippling left hook to the liver and Jackiewicz went down and was unable to recover.
Rafal Jackiewicz (42-10-2, 21 KOs) says a fight with EBU champion Leonard Bundu (28-0-2, 9 KOs) is not likely going to happen on April 6 in the Italian capital. The 35-year-old boxer is already going to see action on March 23 on the Wojak Boxing Night in Czestochowa, where he will headline in a ten round fight in the main event.