February 23, Per Ake Persson: Ukrainian lightheavy Yuri Barashian won the EBU title with an eighth round stoppage of Thomas Ulrich, the defending champion. Ulrich was hurt by a bodydshot
late in fifth, floored three times in the seventh from the very same southpaw left hooks to the liver region. Early in the eighth Barashian floored Ulrich again with that left hook and it was waved over at 0.56 as Thomas got up. It was a tough fight from the start and developed into a wild punchup as the German, sensing the fight was slipping away from him, opened up with both hands. Barashian was hard to catch though and Ulrich kept missing with an alarming number of punches..
After seven it was scored 66-65 and 67-63 for Barashian and 66-66. The judges were split on the seventh round as well scoring it 10-6, 10-7 and 10-8.
Russian cruiser Aleksander Alekseev again impressed in retaining the WBO I/C title with a stoppage of American Talmadge Griffin, who was retired by his corner after the second round. Griffin was down twice in the first and hurt in the second.
Supermiddle Dmitri Sartison stopped Argentinian Pablo Daniel Zamora Nieves at 1.46 of the eighth of a scheduled non-title ten rounder.
Welter Oliver Guettel won a close call over Spaniard Juan Martinez Bas over eight.
Czech jr middle Lukas Konecny knocked out Kimfuta Makassu in the second with a left hook to the body.
Colombian cruiser Santander Silgado moved 12-0 (12) with a second round stoppage of Brit John Anthony. Silgado looked pretty green though and must have been close to a DQ loss after a blatant low blow in the first. Anthony bent over, and then sat down with Salgado punching on his floored opponent.
Gomez vs Virchis update: “Everything you read on the internet this far has been wrong” said Universum´s CEO Dietmar Poszwa. “We will put out a statement next week. But both men asked for time to prepare and we will get them that.”
September 27 seems like the likely date which is sure to leave both fighters unhappy.