WBO super middle titlist Karoly Balzsay was well on his way to outboxing challenger Robert Stieglitz last night at Syma Sport and Leisure Center in Budapest, Hungary when disaster struck.

That unlucky occurrence took the form of a bad laceration on the champion's forehead in the early part of the ninth frame, changing the entire complexion of the bout.

Gone were Balzsay's edge in reflexes and coordination and Stieglitz knew it. The Russian veteran put his Hungarian foe under a wave of pressure and the same punches that Balzsay had previously slipped were now landing flush.

Balzsay got through the remainder of the ninth but rest between rounds didn't improve things for the champion, who was battered across the ring so badly in the tenth that his corner refused to allow him to answer the bell for the 11th frame.

Seasoned Stieglitz had wisely conserved his energy for the later rounds and that reserve allowed him to step on the gas to hammer the reeling Balzsay. More...

WBO super middle champ Karoly Balzsay makes the second defense of his title when he faces off against Robert Stieglitz at the Syma Sport Centre in Budapest, Hungary.

Hamburg based Hungarian Balzsay, 21-0 (15), won the WBO belt with a surprising unanimous decision over favored opponent Denis Inkin in January and KO'd aging but still dangerous ex-WBA middleweight champ Maselino Masoe in April.

German based Russian Stieglitz, 35-2 (21), was stopped in a rematch against Alejandro Berrio in 2007 for the vacant IBF super middle crown and suffered the same fate against Librado Andrade in an eliminator for the same title a year later.

Tonight in Budapest, southpaw Balzsay is the definite favorite to keep his WBO strap and the advantage of an adoring home crowd won't hurt either but Stieglitz has nothing to lose as this bout represents what is likely to be his last crack at a world title.

Balzsay should box his way to a unanimous decision but Stieglitz could upset the applecart if the champion suffers any defensive lapses.

By Per Ake Persson

Russian heavy Alexander Povetkin has pulled out of the fight against Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko with the vacant European title at stake. The deadline for pursebids or agreement was tomorrow. More...

In a stunning upset, WBO Super Middle Champion Denis Inkin was outpointed on Saturday by undefeated challenger Karoly Balzsay at the Bordelandhalle in Madgeburg.

Inkin had come into the bout fresh off a twelve round handling of Colombian knockout artist Fulgencio Zuniga last year for Joe Calzaghe's old WBO title but the Hamburg based Russian was at odds when confronted with the Hungarian southpaw's quicker hands.

Balzsay punished Inkin with sharp counters and controlled the pace of the fight despite being the less experienced man.

With the win, Balzsay improves to 20-0 (14), and wins the WBO Super Middleweight title in convincing fashion by scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113, while Inkin loses for the first time in his career to fall to 34-1 (24).

On the undercard, Zsolt Erdei, 30-0 (17), stayed perfect by defending his WBO Light Heavy crown for the 11th consecutive time with a unanimous decision over Yuri Barashian, 25-5 (17), after twelve rounds.

Super middle contender Robert Stieglitz, 34-2 (21), stayed busy with an fourth round stoppage against Estonia's Dmitri Protkunas, 10-28-1 (1), and former WBA Super Middle title challenger Dimitri Sartison, 24-1 (15), posted an eight round points verdict over Vasily Andriyanov, 7-18 (1).

WBO Light Heavyweight title challenger Yuti Barashian, 25-4 (17), ruled out any chance he may have to win Zsolt Erdei's title in their clash tonight at the Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany as the 29 year old southpaw was unable to make the divisional weight limit of 175 pounds yesterday.

The native born Armenian won the European title last year with an eight round KO of Thomas Ulrich before losing a wide points decision to Argentina's Hugo Hernan Garay for the vacant WBA title in his most recent action.

Erdei, 29-0 (17), puts his eight year win streak on the line against Barashian but will retain his WBO title if he loses the bout, scheduled for twelve rounds.

Another WBO title bout takes place on the bill as Russian super middleweight Dennis Inkin, 34-0 (24), makes his first defense of the crown he won against Colombian slugger Fulgencio Zuniga last September by facing the challenge of undefeated Hungarian southpaw Karoly Balzsay, 19-0 (14).

Balzsay comes into the bout as the reigning WBO Intercontinental beltholder and has stopped his last two opponents, leading to what should be a very competitive bout with Inkin.

Super middleweight contender Robert Stieglitz, 33-2 (20), is on the undercard and will face Dmitri Protkunas, 10-27-1 (1), in an eight rounder, just one month after narrowly posting a split decision over previously undefeated Lukas Wilaschek to win the WBC International belt. More...

The action in Germany last night was at the Rundturm Arena in Cuxhaven as one of the top women's boxers in the world, Natascha Ragosina, retained her five world titles at super middleweight and men's super middle contender Robert Stieglitz won an important comeback fight following his IBF title eliminator loss in March.

32 year old Ragosina, a Kazakhstan born Russian now residing in Magdeburg, Germany, kept her perfect record at 18-0 (11) with a ten round unanimous decision win over Kenya's Conjestina Achieng, 14-5-3 (7).

But it was one of the more difficult fights in recent memory for the unified women's super middleweight champ as Achieng lived up to her "Hands of Stone" nickname and seemed to batter Ragosina for most of the rounds.

The champion stayed on the defensive all night and was comprehensively outworked by her African opponent but the judges saw it differently and awarded Ragosina a 97-93 (twice) and 96-94 decision. More...

After a good start in his fight against IBF # 4 super middleweight contender Robert Steiglitz, Fawaz Nasir was pulled out by his corner in the fifth round last night in Cuxhaven, Germany.

Nasir started well and landed many times with his quick and sharp jab in the first two rounds, but already in the second he felt that something was wrong in his right shoulder. More...

Fawaz Nasir and Kim Poulsen are putting the final touches on their training for this coming Fridays fights in Cuxhaven, Germany. Super middleweight Nasir, 13-2 (8), is taking on Robert Stieglitz, 31-2 (19), over eight rounds in a bid to take over the Russian-Germans IBF # 4 world ranking, and Poulsen, 8-1 (1), will square off with tough Tanzanian veteran Obote “The Thunder” Ameme, 38-14-2 (27), in a six rounder at super featherweight. More...

Tanzanian veteran Obote “The Thunder” Ameme, 38-14-2, (27), feels ready to test Danish prospect Kim Poulsen to the limit on July 11 in Cuxhaven, Germany.

Boxing six rounds with a nine-fight-novice after several title fights and more than fifty total paid fights, doesn’t concern the 29-year-old from Dar-Es-Salaam. More...

By Per Ake Persson

European Welterweight Champion Jackson Osei Bonsu´s defence of the title against Slovenian Jan Zaveck on July 26 in Maribor is postponed until late September as Zaveck suffer from a back injury. Jackson is also booked to headline a show at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp on November 11. More...

Danish super featherweight prospect Kim Poulsen, 8-1 (1), will appear on the undercard of the Fawaz Nasir vs. Robert Steiglitz showdown on July 11 at the Rundturm Arena in Cuxhaven, Germany. Poulsen will be pitted against very experienced Tanzanian Obote “The Thunder” Ameme, 34-18-2 (27), a veteran of seven title fights of various kinds.

29-year-old Ameme has lost four of his last five fights, but Poulsen’s manager, Henrik Risum, believes the African will be a suitable test for the young Dane. More...

Danish super middleweight Fawaz Nasir, 13-2 (8), is determined to give everything he has when he takes on IBF # 5 contender Robert Stieglitz, 31-2 (19), over eight rounds on July 11 in Cuxhaven, Germany.

The 28-year-old boxer-puncher signed the contract on Saturday, and realises this is a magnificent chance to take over the Russian-German's world ranking, and with that, get himself significantly closer to a world title-fight. More...