17.06.07 – Unbeaten WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (27-0, 17 KOs) scored a dominating eleventh round stoppage of George “Honey Boy” Blades (21-3, 15 KOs) on Saturday at the SYMA Arena in Budapest, Hungary. Erdei was very accurate with his full arsenal of punches as he methodically broke down his challenger.
Blades was staggered after a hard right in round six, but Erdei patiently stuck to his game plan, which was working flawlessly.Things heated up in the tenth when Blades tried to launch an aggressive attack, but Erdei continued to win the exchanges. In round eleven, referee Joe Cortez decided to step in and end the one-sided affair even though Blades didn’t appear to be particularly hurt. Time was 2:27.
“The Firebird” successfully made his second defense in front of his native Hungarian fans and eighth defense overall. After the bout, Erdei was presented with a WBO ring by WBO President Paco Valcarcel.
Earlier, cruiserweight Firat Arslan (26-3-1, 18 KOs) dethroned WBA interim champion Valery Brudov (33-2, 25 KOs) via twelve round split decision to earn a shot at WBA titleholder Virgil Hill. Arslan pressed the action and seemingly was a clear winner although scores were 117-111, 116-112 for Arslan, 116-112 for Brudov.
Brudov collapsed during a break just before the final bell and was later stretchered to the hospital in an ambulance. Hill must face Arslan by October 15, 2007.
Unbeaten Olympian cruiserweight Alexander Alekseev (11-0, 10 KOs) demolished respectable Hector Alfredo Avila (16-8-1, 12 KOs) after just 2:32 of the first round. Alekseev wins the WBO Intercontinental championship and looks like a force to be reckoned with in the cruiserweight division.
Unbeaten super middleweight Karoly Balzsay (16-0, 12 KOs) knocked out Jose Hilton Dos Santos (24-8-1, 14 KOs) at 2:59 of round five.
Unbeaten heavyweight Dieter Roth (13-0, 8 KOs) won in round five when Vlado Szabo (1-23) was disqualified. Time was 1:41
Unbeaten super middleweight Dimitri Sartison (19-0, 13 KOs) scored a one-sided eight round nod over Mike Algoet (27-27-1, 11 KOs). Scores were 80-72, 80-73, 78-74.
As expected, junior featherweight prospect Zsolt Bedak (6-0) was victorious. The former amateur star TKO’d Kemal Plavci (3-19) at 1:49 of round two.
Local cruiser Gyorgy Hidvegi (14-1-1, 10 KOs) stopped Merick Roberge (18-6) at 2:39 of round two to claim the WBF belt.
All Results:
WBO World Championship Light Heavyweight (12 Rounds)
Zsolt Erdei (HUN) vs. George Blades (USA)
W TKO, Rd.11, 2´27
WBA Interim World Championship Cruiserweight (12 Rounds)
Valery Brudov (RUS) vs. Firat Arslan (GER)
L PTS; 112:116, 116:112, 111:117
WBO Intercontinental Championship Cruiserweight (12 Rounds)
Aleksander Alekseev (RUS) vs. Hector Alfredo Avila (ARG)
W KO, Rd. 1, 2´32
WBF World Championship Cruiserweight (12 Rounds)
Gyorgy Hidvegi (HUN) vs. Merick Roberge (FRA)
W TKO, Rd. 2, 2`39
Super Middleweight (8 Rounds)
Karoly Balzsay (HUN) vs. Jose Hilton Dos Santos (BRA)
W KO, Rd. 5, 2’59
Heavyweight (8 Rounds)
Dieter Roth (GER) vs. Vlado Szabo (SLO)
W DQ, Rd. 5, 1’41
Super Middleweight (8 Rounds)
Dimitri Sartison (GER) vs. Mike Algoet (BEL)
W PTS: 80:72, 80:73, 78:74
Jr. Welterweight (8 Rounds)
Andreas Kotelnik (UKR) vs. Laszlo Komjathi (HUN)
W PTS: 79:75, 79:73, 79:73
Jr. Featherweight (6 Rounds)
Zsolt Bedak (HUN) vs. Kemal Plavci (SRB)
W TKO, Rd. 2, 1`49