© M.A. Sayer / Arena Boxing

After the dust had settled in Ankara, Turkey last night, the controversial draw between Sinan Samil Sam and Paolo Vidoz in their European Heavyweight Championship bout still led to lots of discussions. “The Bull from Bosporus ” had been the more active fighter over the 12 rounds, but Vidoz could score with his pumping jab.

When the referee announced the result 5,000 Turkish fans at Büyük Anadolu Hotel did not believe their ears: two judges had given a draw while one had Sinan two points ahead. Therefore, the European championship and the IBF intercontinental belt remains vacant.

“It would have been less controversial if one of the judges hadn’t changed his score of the last round afterwards”, stated Arena CEO Ahmet Öner, the promoter of the bout and of Sinan Samil Sam.

“On one of the scorecards it said 10-10 but Sinan’s 10 was crossed out and replaced by a 9. This one point turned a win for Sinan into the draw. This smells like robbery and I will not accept that. Of course, it was a close fight but Vidoz didn’t do enough to win the fight or earn a draw. I already protested at the EBU.”

© M.A. Sayer / Arena Boxing

The co-main event of the night saw Herbie Hide defending his WBC International Cruiserweight Championship against “Albanian Tyson” Nuri Seferi. Seferi started strong, sending Herbie to the canvas in the first, but the “Dancing Destroyer” came back to dominate the later rounds and take home a well deserved unanimous decision victory.

“Herbie is the best boxer I have been in the ring with so far”, stated Seferi after the fight. “He will be world champion soon. I think neither Steve Cunningham nor Marco Huck – who I’ve been in the ring with before – will have a chance against his speed and accuracy.”

© M.A. Sayer / Arena Boxing

Cuban world amateur champion Erislandy Lara won his pro-debut against previously unbeaten Ivan Maslov from Russia. Lara scored a one-sided unanimous decision win.

Olympic Silver Medallist Atagün Yalcinkaya impressed his home crowd with a first round TKO victory over Russia’s Vladislav Sagalarov, taking home his third stoppage win in his third pro fight.

Turkish heavyweight Yakup Saglam (third round TKO over Alexander Subin) and middleweight Mustafa Karagöllü (fourth round TKO over Andrei Tolstihs) scored inside wins as well while middleweight Mahir “Lion” Oral went the distance with tough Latvian Jurijs Boreiko.

Former WBO Heavyweight Champion Henry Akinwande lost a close decision to strong Czech prospect Ondrej Pala.

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Boxing News Tags: Arena CEO, Atagün Yalcinkaya, DSF, Erislandy Lara, Henry Akinwande, Herbie Hide, Ivan Maslov, Jurijs Boreiko, Mahir Oral, Nuri Seferi, Ondrej Pala, Paolo Vidoz, Sinan Samil Sam, Vladislav Sagalarov