Tony Thompson Stops Luan Krasniqi

tony thompsonBy Per Ake Persson: July 14, Hamburg, Germany: American heavy Tony Thompson stopped German Luan Krasniqi in five one-sided rounds in the headliner of Universum´s big show at a sold out Color Line Arena. Krasniqi took a steady beating from the beginning, had lost all four completed rounds and while not knocked down referee Mark Nelson stopped it at 2.39 of the fifth. There were no protests but the crowd bood both the stoppage and Krasniqi´s lethargic performance. It was as if he had no clue in how to get through Thompson´s long reach and tricky southpaw style.

Thompson scored with his left hand almost at will and wobbled Krasnigi in the first. At the end of the fourth both the doctor and referee checked the German in his corner and told him it would be stopped if he didn´t get going. Krasniqi did better in the fifth but was then hurt by hooks to the body, backed into the ropes and it was stopped.

No-one at ringside could explain what had went wrong or if Krasniqi was sick or injured.” Maybe he just got old overnight” said Universum´s Jean Marcel Narz. “Luan is 36 and have had a long career with many hard fights.”

“I told you it would be easy” smiled Thompson, who will be the mandatory challenger for WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov.

In the chief Aleksander Dimitrenko stopped American Malcolm Tann in the fifth with the WBO I/C heavyweight title at stake. Dimitrenko had problems with Tann´s holding and spoiling but finally broke through.

Nigerian heavy Gbenga Oloukun knocked out Russian Alex Vassilev with a left hook to the body in the eighth and final round.

Middleweight Sebastian Zbik outscored Uruguayan Ruben Francisco Silva Diaz over eight.

Supermiddle Eduard Gutknecht outfought Christian Pawlak for a unanimous decision after six. Russian KO king Dennis Boytsov was forced to go the distance against Brazilian veteran Juan Antonio Diaz but won clearly after six.

German welter champ Norman Schuster was credited with knockout win in the sixth over Austrian Gotthard Hinteregger under confusing circumstances. Schuster was well ahead on points though.

News: Jurgen Brahmer vs Mario Veit II, the rematch between the two German supermiddles, both Universum fighters, will take place September 15 in Rostock.