Boxing In Germany: Herelius Defeats Arslan For Interim WBA Crown

Former WBA cruiserweight king Firat Arslan’s comeback dreams were ended last night at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart as he was defeated by ex-French heavyweight titlist Steve Herelius.

Southpaw Arslan was dethroned two years ago by Guillermo Jones and the Suessen resident had high hopes against Herelius as the winner would cage the Interim WBA belt.

Herelius took the early rounds as he managed to keep Arslan at a good distance, working behind the jab and picking off the German as Arslan tried to come in.

Arslan broke through in the middle rounds, pressuring the Frenchman with success and taking control of the bout but it was not to last.

Herelius managed to slow down the action in the tenth, and even though he lost a point for holding, the wrestling tired his 39 year old opponent, who was winded after his efforts of the previous frames.

Arslan lost the plot by the eleventh, taking two-handed punishment from a suddenly revitalized Herelius before the German’s corner stopped the bout before the twelfth round could start.

Herelius moves to 20-1-1 (12), is now the Interim WBA titlist, earning the right to face full WBA champion Guillermo Jones while Arslan drops to 29-5-1 (18).

The undercard saw the top featherweight in Women’s boxing, Ina Menzer, shockingly dethroned by Canadian southpaw Jeannine Garside via a hard fought unanimous decision.

Menzer, 26-1 (10), loses for the first time during her six year career and with it the WBC, WBO and WIBF titles.

Garside, 10-3-1 (4), a former WIBA feather and super bantam champion, wins the biggest bout of her career and has now won three bouts in a row after a disastrous 2008 that saw three consecutive losses in three different weight classes.

Former WBO lightweight title challenger Matt Zegan, 42-5-1 (21), was on the bill, winning a difficult eight rounder on points against Czech veteran Araik Sachbazjan, 12-15 (5), at light welter.