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09/29/2005 Archived Entry: "Krasniqi fails in attempt to become Max Schmeling's heir"
Krasniqi fails in attempt to become Max Schmeling's heir!
By Fabian Weber
Brewster (left) and Krasniqi (Graphic courtesy of www.boxing.de)
Hamburg - American Lamon Brewster stopped German challenger Luan Krasniqi in the ninth round of a bruising defense of the WBO heavyweight title on Wednesday at Color Line Arena of Hamburg, Germany.
Brewster was outboxed for six rounds in front of 15,000 people who hadpaid to see him lose but a tiring Krasniqi's decision to slug with aslugger proved to be his undoing. Brewster continued to struggle untilhe landed a hard left in the eighth round that sent Krasniqi to thecanvas stiff-legged.
Brewster then landed a right that sent Krasniqi sprawling into the ropes with 12 seconds left in the ninth round.
Brewster (33-2, 29 knockouts) was staggered by lefts from the tallerKrasniqi (28-2-1, 14 knockouts) from the opening minutes. He was behindon the cards in the third defense of his belt until two successive lefts turned the bout around.
``It was just my willpower, my determination. I had to wait a longtime,'' Brewster said.
Krasniqi, who earned his shot by stopping Lance Whitaker in the sixthround, failed in his attempt to become the second German heavyweightchampion after Max Schmeling 75 years ago.
``I wanted to do that. I'm very, very sorry -- I was so close,'' the34-year-old German told large audience.
``But I felt too certain in the fight. But that's heavyweight boxing.You're on top, then one blow and you're down. I learned a hard lessontoday.''
Brewster also turned around the fight against Wladimir Klitschko, knocking out the Ukrainian in the fifth round to gain the WBO title inApril last year.
In May, he stopped Andrew Golota in under a minute.
The fight had action from the opening seconds.
Krasniqi lost his temper at a second low blow by Brewster in the secondround. In the fourth, the German became angry again at what he thoughtwas another low blow. While he was walking around, the referee waved off his complaint, and Brewster ran over and knocked him into the ropes.
"Luan is a good fighter who landed many good shots against me", Brewster commented. " I want to be thee world champion, not just a United Stateschampion and I proved it tonight by coming to Germany and defeating agame challenger. I always fight from will, not always from skill."
"I want to give applause to Hamburg and the German people for being sowonderful to me during my visit. I will never forget my time here."
Brewster's promoter Don King echoed his champion's sentiments.
"Luan used his jab and his right but this champion doesn't quit," Kingsaid. "Lamon Brewster is a true world champion now that he came toGermany and won here."
The fight was timed to the 100th birthday of Schmeling, Germany'sbiggest boxing idol. He died on Feb. 2 at 99.
Dimitrenko, Chagaev, Bidenko won on the undercard
On the undercard Ukrainian heavyweight contender Alexander Dimitrenkopounded out a ten round unanimous decision over former two-time worldtitle challenger Vaughn Bean. Scores were 95:93, 95:93, 96:92. Bean wasdeducted a point for a low blow in round three and got another warningfor a low blow foul in round four.
Former heavyweight title challenger and Don King fighter Kali Meehanstopped Tommy Connelly at 1:42 of round three. The New Zealander knocked Connelly down once each in rounds two and three.
Coming back from a knockout loss in March was Spotlight prospect Taras Bidenko who regained the international German title with a unanimousdecision over Nuri Seferi from Switzerland. Bidenko dropped Seferi with a straight right hand seconds before the end of the bout and won by97:92 on all three cards. Bidenko improved to 15-2 with 9 knockouts.Seferi fell to 15-3.
Powerful heavyweight contender Ruslan Chagaev, 17-0-1 (14), needed just 50 seconds to destroy Jocimar Hipolito, 9-4 (4). After the Uzbekian Universum fighter scored the second knockdown in round one, Hipolito'scoach Markus Aslani threw in the towel.
Nineteen year old heavyweight prospect and knockout artist DenisBoytsov, 9-0 (9), knocked down Janos Somogyi, 6-6 (4), twice in round one and the referee stopped the contest just as the bell sounded to endthe opening round (3:00).
In an internal boxing stable eliminator heavyweight Valery Chechenev, 10-0 (7), won a six round majority decision over Bagrat Ohanyan, 7-1 (5). Scores were 58:56, 57:57, 58:56.
Making his professional debut for the Spotlight Boxing stable Nigerianheavyweight Bang Bang Gbenga won a four-rounder over Vlado Szabo. Scores were 40:36, 40:36, 40:36.
Tale of the Tape: Lamon Brewster - Luan Krasniqi
All Results:
WBO Heavyweight Championship:
Lamon Brewster TKO9 Luan Krasniqi (2:48)
Int. German Heavyweight Championship:
Taras Bidenko W10 Nuri Seferi (97:92, 97:92, 97:92)
Heavyweight:
Alexander Dimitrenko W10 Vaughn Bean (95:93, 95:93, 96:92)
Heavyweight:
Ruslan Chagaev KO1 Jocimar Hipolito (0:50)
Heavyweight:
Denis Boytsov KO1 Janos Somogyi (3:00)
Heavyweight:
Kali Meehan KO3 Tommy Connelly (1:42)
Heavyweight:
Valery Chechenev W6 Bagrat Ohanyan (58:56, 57:57, 58:56)
Heavyweight:
Bang Bang Gbenga (Debut) W4 Vlado Szabo (40:36, 40:36, 40:36)
