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Saturday night saw Welshman Gavin Reesʽs first defence of his WBA World Light Welterweight title against Ukranian Andreas Kotelnik at Cardiff International Arena, Wales in a Sports Network promoted Fightnight.
Kotelnik, based in Hamburg, Germany, entered the ring ahead of a relaxed Gavin ʽThe Rockʼ Rees. The undefeated Rees won the title from Souleymane MʽBaye in July 2007 by unanimous points decision.
It was a good first few rounds from Rees, but he dips during the mid-rounds and in the seventh, he is inspected by the doctor for damage to the left eye area. He looks to be doing well to hang on in the closing seconds of the frame as he takes a number of punches from the Ukrianian.
It was a close contest but the quality punches have come from Kotelnik and both men sense this final round could be the decider. Rees forgets his defence and looks for the big punch but he is clearly exhausted.
With 50 seconds of round 12 to go, a left followed by a big right comes from Kotelnik and seconds later Rees falls to the canvas. The referee signals it is a slip and he helps the Welshman to his feet, but Rees looks dazed and moments later the referee calls a stop to the contest in the last half minute of the twelfth and final round, with Rees judged unfit to continue.
Kotelnik wins the WBA Light Welter crown by TKO at 2:34 of round 12 and improves to 29-2-1 (13), while Rees drops to 27-1 (13), losing for the first time in a ten year career.
After what was described as an epic fight – Reesʼ trainer, Enzo Calzaghe, said ʽRees lost but was a championʼ.
Also fighting at Cardiff was Tony ʽThe Docʼ Doherty. Now training under Enzo Calzaghe at the Newbridge Camp – Docherty faced Barrie Jones of South Wales for the Welsh Area Welterweight title.
Doherty won on points 97-94 to take the belt and see his record to 21-1 (9) while Jones loses his first contest to fall to 15-1 (7).
Afterward, Doherty insisted he wanted current British Welter Champion Kevin McIntyre for a rematch to their July of 2007 bout in which McIntyre handed Doherty his only loss.
