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06/05/2006 Archived Entry: "Euro-Beat Update: Kalnars Stops Schmidt, Valuev Stops Beck & More!"
Euro-Beat Update: Kalnars Stops Schmidt, Valuev Stops Beck & More!
By Per Ake Persson
Courtesy of Boxing Press
POTSDAM, Germany, June 2 - Latvian heavy Edgar Kalnars scored his third straight win at Elite Box Promotionīs Friday Night Fights at the Blue Box in Potsdam. Kalnars had no problems with big German Mario Schmidt and hurt him the first of their scheduled eight-rounder and floored him.
Schmidt got up and was allowed to continue but was under pressure against the ropes and referee Manfred Kuechler stopped the fight at 2.57 of the first.
Jr middle Daniel Kafer won a unanimous decision over Omar Siala in a six-rounder that was the chief support.
Cruiser Andreas Kempe moved to 3-0 with an too easy first round stoppage win over Slovakian Robert Borok.
Female jr middle Jasmin Oflas had sold a lot of tickets for her a prodebut but was lucky to get a draw with Slovakian Miroslava Durinova over four-twos.
Middleweight Christian Pawlak won all the rounds against Robby Siebert over six.
On June 3rd in Hannover, Germany, WBA heavy champ Nikolai Valuev retained the title with an easy third round stoppage of American challenger Owen Beck.
Beck fought a brave fight - but not a very smart one. He walked into the giant Russian showing no respect and paid the price. Beck first got stopped Valuevīs enourmous reach and was then stunned by a right that made his knees dip. In the second he was even more agressive and did well - but got caught by a right and went down.
Beck survived the count from referee Luis Pabon but was stuck in Valuevīs corner, took a beating and was saved by the bell.
"What the Heck" came out for the third and continued being too brave and walked into a right upercut. He went down on his back and was again allowed to continue but this time he was hurt for real. Valuev landed a left-right-left and it was stopped at 1.44 of the third.
It was a solid performance by the champion.
"Idi" Amin Asikainen won the EBU 160 lb title with an eighth round stoppage of defending champion Sebastian Sylvester. Sylvester was the agressor in the earlier rounds but the Finn had a good fourth where he stunned the German. Sebastian came back well in the fifth and caught Asikainen with a good right early in the sixth.
Sylvester was cut in the seventh and the referee ruled an accidental headclash had caused it. Asikainen dug deep now, fought back and turned the tide and opened up in the eighth. Sylvester was caught by a left hook and went down and it was stopped at 2.48 of the round.
Tough cruiser Marco Huck outscored Swiss Nuri Seferi over ten actionpacked rounds. Huck, agressive, hardpunching and with a devil may care attitude is one to watch. Seferi had a point deducted in the fourth for a headbutt and was hurt in the final round.
Heavyweight prospect Alexander Povetkin stopped Livin Castillo in the fourth.
Welterweight Oktay Urkal, mandatory challenger for WBA champ Ricky Hatton, and a good workout from Andrei Rimer but was a deserved winner despite the booing from some of the crowd at the TUI arena.
Sauerland Event promoted along with Don King Productions.
