There was a good show at the Sparkassen Arena in Kiel last night with IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham putting in a dramatic finish to knockout big-hearted American visitor Elvin Ayala in the twelfth and final round to retain his title for the seventh time.

Ayala showed good boxing skills in the early going but began to absorb withering fire by the middle rounds when the champion began to close distance and fine range.

Abraham landed a picture perfect right hand in the fifth to canvas the challenger but could not improve upon his work to end the bout at that time. Ayala battled back but simply didn't have the power to keep Abraham off.

The durable American made Abraham work but had to soak up ever increasing amounts of punishment as the contest went into the championship rounds.

By the final frame, Ayala had little left and was belted out by an Abraham uppercut at 2:32 of the twelfth to end the fight.

With the win, Abraham raises his record to 26-0 (21) while Ayala loses the third of his last six contests to drop to 18-3-1 (8).

Also seeing action was ex-WBC Cruiserweight titlist Wayne Braithwaite, 23-3 (19), who had to climb off the floor in the first to upset highly touted young Cuban prospect Yoan Pablo Hernandez, 14-1 (8), via third round stoppage.

Danish super middle Mads Larsen, 50-2 (37), won the fifth straight bout of his comeback by outpointing former world light middleweight title challenger Ross Thompson, 26-12-2 (16), over eight.

Click to read more boxing articles by Danny Wilson

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Elvin Ayala Signs With TKO Boxing

  Former world title challenger Elvin Ayala has joined forces with Las Vegas based TKO Boxing Promotions in an exclusive promotional agreement, it was announced today by Chet Koerner, its President. >
  
  

• Boxing In Germany: Abraham Faces Marquez Tonight In Bamberg

  Tonight at the Jako Arena in Bamberg, IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham puts his belts on the line against former IBF Light Middle titlist Raul Marquez on a bill that >
  
  

• Elvin Ayala Headlines Boxing Card At Mohegan Sun In February

  Super Middleweight seeks retribution against David Banks from Portland, Oregon at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, February 23rd Elvin Ayala (16-1, 7 KO’s) from New Haven, Connecticut is looking for >
  
  

• Boxing In Germany: Marquez Vows To Shock World Against Abraham

  Challenger Raul "El Diamente" Marquez vowed once again at today's press conference in Germany to shock the boxing world when he fights unbeaten International Boxing Federation middleweight champion "King" Arthur >
  
  

• Ayala and Oliver Headline At Mohegan Sun June 17

  Mohegan Sun will feature two of Connecticut’s promising young boxing talents on Saturday, June 17th in the Mohegan Sun Arena. New Haven’s undefeated Elvin Ayala (14-0, 6 KO’s) and Hartford’s >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Abraham Batters Marquez, Retains Title In Germany

  IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham ended the world title hopes of Raul Marquez last night at Jako Arena in Bamberg, Germany, convincing the 37 year American not to come out >
  
  

• Pantera Says: “Abraham is Scared of my Power”

  The final details are almost complete between Edison 'Pantera' Miranda' and Arthur Abraham for their August 26th IBF middleweight title fight in Oldenburg, Germany. However, there is a bit >
  
  

• German Boxing Result: Abraham Bangs Out Ikeke To Take Vacant IBF Title

  Despite coming into his bout with top American based Nigerian middleweight Kingsley "Sharp Knuckle" Ikeke as the underdog, Arthur Abraham proved his critics wrong by delivering a thorough beating to >
  
  

• Boxing Preview: Arthur Abraham vs. Lajuan Simon

  Tonight at Osteehalle in Keil, Germany, IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham puts his belt at risk against undefeated American Lajuan Simon. Abraham, 28-0 (23), won the belt in December, 2005 and >
  
  

• Edison Miranda To Arthur Abraham: Fighters Don’t Judge Beauty Contests, They Fight

  People’s middleweight champion Edison Miranda took time out from his busy training schedule in Puerto Rico to address comments recently made by IBF “beltholder’ Arthur Abraham. “I apologize to my fans >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Arthur Abraham, Elvin Ayala, German Boxing, Mads Larsen, Ross Thompson, Wayne Braithwaite, Yoan Pablo Hernandez