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12/06/2004 Archived Entry: "Krasniqi retains European title with draw against Hoffmann!"
Krasniqi retains European title with draw against Hoffmann!
By Fabian Weber
Berlin – Luan Krasniqi defended his European heavyweight title with a majority draw against German rival Timo Hoffmann after a thrilling and competitive battle over 12 rounds at Estrel Convention Center of Berlin.
The official result was 115:113 (Hoffmann) and 114:114 twice.
Krasniqi had trouble getting inside the reach of the 6"7 Hoffmann who used his long reach well and constantly worked his long jab in the first rounds. As the fight progress, however, Krasniqi took command and landed his own jab and his right cross many times on the head of his opponent.
It was the first draw in the professional careers of Krasniqi, 27-1-1 (13), and Hoffmann, 31-3-1 (18).
"I started slow into the fight and lost the first couple of rounds", the 33-year-old Krasniqi realized. "But I put myself together and dictated the fight from the mid rounds. I feel like the winner. My game plan worked."
"We both did a great fight. I want a rematch", Hoffmann said.
Prior to the fight most observers didn't expect a competitive performance from Hoffmann who went in to the ring as 3:1 underdog after losing to Krasniqi four times in the amateurs.
"There are two results in boxing that cry for a rematch: Disputed decisions and draws", promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl said. "We will look at Krasniqi's new ranking positions, then discuss the future."
It was the third successful title defense in his second reign as European champion for Krasniqi who hopes for a world title shot in 2005.
Hoffmann failed for the second time to lift the European crown after losing a unanimous decision to Vitali Klitschko in 2000. The 30-year-old German is the only man to take Klitschko the distance and was never knocked down or stopped in his career.
Felix Sturm knocked out Hassine Cherifi
In the second main event between two former middleweight world champions Felix Sturm knocked out Frenchman Hassine Cherifi with a single left hook to the body in round 3. Cherifi crumbled to the canvas and was unable to beat the ten count of referee Heinrich Mühmert.
"I worked on my punching power“, 24-year-old Sturm explained. “Felix Trinidad needed four rounds to stop Cherifi. I knocked him out in the third round. I fight every opponent in the world. If those American stars are really as good as they pretend to be they shouldn’t have a problem to fight me, maybe even face me over here in Germany.”
Sturm, who scored his second consecutive victory after losing a disputed decision to Oscar de la Hoya in June, improved to 22-1 with 10 knockouts. Former WBC champion Cherifi dropped to 35-11-1 (20).
On the undercard Croatian light heavyweight contender Stipe Drews scored an eight round decision over Englishman Ovill McKenzie.
Drews fought for the first time since losing a WBC world title eliminator in August and improved to 27-1 with 12 knockouts. McKenzie dropped to 5-6 (1).
All Results:
European Heavyweight Championship:
Luan Krasniqi D12 Timo Hoffmann
(113:115, 114:114, 114:114)
Middleweight:
Felix Sturm KO3 (2:06) Hassine Cherifi
Welterweight:
Marco Cattikas W4 Andreas Schultz
(40:36, 40:36, 40:36)
Light Heavyweight:
Stipe Drews W8 Ovill McKenzi
(79:72, 80:71, 80:71)
Cruiserweight:
Rüdiger May W8 Roman Bugaj
(80:73, 80:72, 80:72)
Jr. Middleweight:
Alex Abraham KO4 Dariusz Sierpinski
Cruiserweight:
Marco Huck KO1 Wlodec Kopec
