Orktay Urkal retains WBC International title

(Stuttgart, 13 February 1999) German-Turkey Oktay Urkal belied his critics who found that the 1996 Olympic Silver Medallist, even though highly skilled, has no punching power.

In the second defense of his WBC International super lightweight title Oktay "Cassius" Urkal stopped the French champion Frederick Tripp at 1:55 into the second round. Urkal scored a knockdown with a left hook and again rocked the Frenchman deeply, when he landed a straight right hand to the chin. Tripp turned away in hurt and stumbled disoriented into the ropes, causing his corner to threw in the towel.

„Usualy I‘m a gentleman and don’t like to knock out opponents quickly", the 29 year old Urkal joked after the fight. „But today I was no gentleman", the entertaining Urkal, who is almost always in a good mood, added grining.

Oktay Urkal (63,2 kg / 139 lbs) improved to 20-0 with 8 KO´s, whereas Frederick Tripp (62,6 kg / 136 ½ lbs) dropped to 13-4 with 3 KO´s.

Urkal is ranked number 7 in Europe, number 4 by the WBO and number 6 by the WBC.

Willi Fischer gets past Everett Martin

German heavyweight contender Willi Fischer won the first seven rounds of a scheduled 8-round fight against seasoned American Everett "Bigfoot" Martin, but had to survive a knockdown in the final round. Deeply rocked by a right hand to the chin Fischer held on until the final bell saved him.

"He caught me with a lucky punch", Fischer, the International German champion, admitted after the fight. "When you have 113 kg behind your punches you hit hard of course."

Everett Martin, who was also the first one to drop Michael Moorer a couple of years back, proved that nobody should be careless against seasoned journeymen - how bad their records are looking ever.

Willi Fischer (106 kg / 233 ½ lbs) improved to 23-2-1 with 18 KO´s, whereas Everett Martin (113 kg / 249 lbs) dropped to 20-28-1 with 9 KO´s.

Further results: Zoltan Lunka (Germany) W8 Bela Sandor (Hungary); Armand Krajnc (Sweden) KO3 James McCray (USA); Alexander Petkovic (Germany) W4 Julius Gal (Slovakia)


Fabian Weber
International Press Spokesman
Universum Box-Promotion GmbH
Am Stadtrand 27
22047 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +49 40 696559-0
Fax:+49 40 696559-50

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