01.10.05 – By Per-Åke Persson: Giant Russian heavy Nikolai Valuev won a majority decision over American Larry Donald and retained the WBA I/C title in the main event at the sold-out EWE Arena. This was also a WBA eliminator. The fight was close and difficult to score. At the end Ove Ovesen from Denmark had it 115-113 Valuev, Guy Jutras, Canada 114-114 while Japan´s Takeshi Shimakawa came in with an out of line 117-112 score for Valuev..
There were no knockdowns and little drama as Valuev plugged away behind his poking jab and appeared a bit flat. Donald took his time to get warmed up – and blew the fight in those early rounds – but began to score with a sneaky, precise right in the midrounds. Valuev was badly cut over the left eye and seemed to be in problems. But somehow he found out how he could block the right in the ninth and the tide turned again with the stronger Valuev putting pressure on his tiring opponent. Both tried hard in the last but Donald looked the sharper. At ringside everyone had it close with a draw or a point either way. The crowd booed the decision but it was very close.
Don King made no ifs and buts about it and said he would protest the decision and wanted a rematch. Valuev agreed to one but after he had beaten WBA champ John Ruiz. “Ich bin auch ein Oldenburger” shouted King waving German, American and Russian flags.
In the co-feature EBU heavy champ Paolo Vidoz won an unanimous decision over Brit Michael Sprott. This one wasn´t close. The Italian, who by all accounts does not like too train, won fair and square pacing himself well, boxing smartly but wasn´t afraid to mix it up when the going got tough. Sprott appeared confused and retreated without a plan. There were no knockdowns. It was scored 117-112, 117-112 and 117-113.
The third titlefight saw local fighter Heidi Hartmann knock out Dominican Mariana Garcia in the first to win the vacant WIBF middleweight belt.
Middleweight Arthur Abraham kept busy with an easy fifth round stoppage of brave but outclassed Argentinian Luis Daniel Parada.
Heavyweight Cengiz Koc, who´s the next challenger for Vidodz, knocked out American Chris Lewallen in the first.
Sauerland Event promoted with ARD televising the mainevent live.