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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.
The Dane was still very much in the fight in round three, but as the round drew to a close Stieglitz began to get the upper-hand more and more, and Nasir had serious difficulties in keeping the strong Russian-German at bay. In the fourth, things got worse for Nasir, and in the fifth it was apparent that he could no longer compete against the skilled former world-title-challenger.
Unable to defend himself with just one working arm and in excruciating pain, Nasir suddenly took a knee and trainer Brian Mathiasen consequently informed the referee that he was pulling Nasir out. With that, Stieglitz was the winner by fifth round technical knockout, and a new record of 32-2 (20). Nasir dropped to 13-3 (8).
After the fight Nasir was diagnose d with a torn tendon in the shoulder by the on-site doctor, but will go to a Danish hospital for X-rays as soon as possible.
“Fawaz was in the fight from the beginning, and competing with Stieglitz on even terms, but when he got injured the writing was on the wall”, says co-manager Henrik Risum, who handles Nasir in cooperation with Fight Production in Germany.
“I’m not saying he was on a clear course to victory if he hadn’t gotten injured, not at all, but he certainly had a fair shot and was not doing too bad. Stieglitz’s face was looking much worse than Fawaz after the fight, but with just one arm, it was never going to happen. Brian made the right decision in stopping the fight when he did.”
Also on the bill, Danish golden boy Kim Poulsen, 9-1 (1), was scheduled to fight Tanzanian boxer Obote Ameme, 34-18-2 (27) in Cuxhaven last night, but the African pulled out due to unclarified circumstances on Monday, and the super fe atherweight prospect was instead pitted against Hungarian journeyman Sandor Fekete, 1-23-1 (0), over four rounds instead of the originally planned six.
Poulsen won all four rounds and a clear unanimous decision, but failed to get rid of Fekete inside the distance. But it was not for lack of trying, as Poulsen put on his most aggressive effort to date and pounded in hard shots to body and head of the east European, who just refused to go down.
“After training for one guy for weeks, and then going through several days of uncertainty about who the actual opponent would be, I am proud of the attitude Kim brought into this fight,” said Poulsen’s manager Henrik Risum.
“Fekete very seldom gets stopped, but Kim tried his hardest and showed more killer-instinct than in previous fights. It made for some unpretty moments at close range, and Kim probably kept the pace too high, but all things considered ,his effort was good and he will have learned a lot.
“Kim does have considerable power, and the knockouts will come for sure. Fekete had a very hard head and took the body shots very well, so I am not worried about not getting the knockout this time.”
Poulsen will now take a well-deserved rest before returning in the fall.
