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08/30/2008 Archived Entry: ""
Euro-Beat Update: Valuev Champ Again!
By Per Ake Persson
Courtesy of Boxing Press
BERLIN, Germany, August 30 -- Russian giant Nikolai Valuev won a unanimous decision over John Ruiz to win the vacant WBA heavyweight title. It was scored 116-111, 116-113 and 114-113, all for Valuev - it was however first announced as a split decision which was due to a mix-up in the scoring slips used by the judges. There were no knockdowns although Team Ruiz claimed there should have been one ruled when Valuev slipped in the second round. Valuev had a point deducted in the tenth round for pushing. But overall the big Russian was scoring with an effective jab and landed with the cleaner punches to come out a close but deserved winner.
The new champion will make a voluntary defence in December. Arena Box Promotion have offered Valuev to come to Turkey to fight Sinan Samil Sam. If Sauerland Event accept is a different story though.
In the final bout of a long evening heavyweight Kali Meehan knocked out Dominique Alexander in the second of a scheduled ten-rounder.
Francesco Pianeta won the vacant EU heavyweight title when Brit Scott Gammer retired with a broken right hand and didnīt come out for the ninth round. Pianeta was ahead 78-74 on all cards after eight.
Cengiz Koc won a close, majority decision over Rene Dettweiler in an internal Sauerland Event heavyweight eliminator. Both men went all out and put up their probably best performances of their respective careers.
Justin Savi impressed in outscoring tough Ukrainian Nikita Lukin over eight, jr lights.
Welter Frank Shabani won over eight against Italian Giuseppe Langella.
Cruiser Yoan Pablo Hernandez floored Santiago De Paula three times in the first but took until the fifth before it was stopped with the Dominican out on his feet.
Russian heavy Andrey Fedosov, now signed with Sauerland Event, stopped American Harold Sconiers in the fourth.
News:
French bantam Jerome Arnould crashed with his motorbike Thursday evening and suffered serious injuries. From the hospital it was announced that the former WBA challenger will need 60 days rest before being able to begin with rehab training.
It will be American heavy Chad Van Sickle that face Cuban star Odlanier Solis September 12 in Cuxhaven.
Unbeaten French jr welter Ali Chebah, WBC Youth champ, face Reyes Sanchez September 27 in Mexico City with WBC Continental Americas at stake.
Belgian bantam Carmelo Ballone defends the EBU title October 17 in London.
Vincenzo Rossitto and Lubos Suda are co-challengers for the vacant EU title in cruiser.
Francesco Versaci and Maurizio Lovaglio clash for the Italian lightheavy title September 15 in Reggia Calabria on a Rosanna Conti Cavini promotion.
