Boxing In Europe: Stieglitz Retains WBO Title In Germany

ByHermann Helmut

There were a few good fight cards on The Continent last night with the largest taking place at Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany where two world titles were fought over.

WBO super middle champ Robert Stieglitz, 38-2 (23), retained his belt for the second time with a wide 12 round points verdict over previously unbeaten challenger Eduard Gutnecht.

Gutnecht, 18-1 (7), is little known but won the title opportunity, and the WBO Intercontinental strap, by garnering a split decision in December over the man Stieglitz defeated to win the WBO title, Karoly Balzsay.

The Germany based challenger came to fight, putting up a spirited effort but wasn’t able to overcome the pressure mounted by Stieglitz, who finished strong to capture a 119-108, 117-110 and 117-111 unanimous decision.

The undercard featured a hotly anticipated rematch between Interim WBC middleweight champ Sebastian Zbik, 29-0 (10), and former WBC International beltholder Domenico Spada, 30-3 (15), who first came to grips in July when Zbik won a razor thing UD.

This time Zbik handled the aggression of Spada better but did have to fight through a cut from a head clash, for which Spada lost a point, to win a 117-110, 116-111 and 116-111 decision.

Also on the bill, big punching Polish cruiserweight prospect Mateusz Masternak, 19-0 (14), stopped Marco Heinichen, 11-23-2 (6), in the second while featherweight Marcel Meyerdiercks, 16-0 (5), stayed perfect with a 10 round unanimous decision against former European bantamweight title challenger Emiliano Salvini, 13-11-1 (2).

At Lessines Arena in Hainaut, Belgium, the vacant European Union super featherweight title was contended in an entertaining scrap between two seasoned operators.

Longtime French champ Karim Chakim, 20-7 (10), managed to fend off, via unanimous decision after 12 rounds, Portuguese veteran Antonio Joao Bento, 21-8-2 (11), who had twice contended for both the European and European Union titles at 130 pounds.

Chakim is now in line to challenge European titlist Leva Kirakosyan, who stopped Bento in a title defense three years ago.

The Artecad Arena in Tramelan, Switzerland played host to Gabor Veto, 16-0 (13), winning the vacant WBC Youth lightweight title by stopping Omari Ramadan, 7-5-1 (4), in the third frame.