World Boxing Council (WBC) international super middleweight champion Nikola Sjekloca defended his title with a unanimous decision win over Spain’s Roberto „El Tigre“ Santos in front of 800 fans at the ballroom in „Hotel Park“, Novi Sad (Serbia). 32-year-old Sjekloca started strong dominating his opponent with his accurate jab and excellent ring generalship. However, the local hero seemed to run out of gas a little in the middle rounds giving Santos the chance to fight back and land some nice combinations. From the tenth round on Sjekloca took control again and did enough to successfully defend his title for the first time after winning the vacant belt with a unanimous decision win over Roman Shkarupa in May 2010.
It was Sjekloca’s 19th win in as many pro-fights while Santos dropped to 16-5-1. „I wasn’t quite happy with Nikola’s performance tonight“, said trainer / manager Luka Popovic. „He looked a little rusty after four months without a fight. Still he deserved the win. Now we go on from there. We plan to defend the title again very soon to make sure that Nikola secures his top spot in the WBC ratings.“ Currently the fighter from Budva (Montenegro) is ranked on no. 8 by the WBC.
On the undercard German heavyweight prospect Erkan Teper remained unbeaten in his fourth pro-fight by scoring a lopsided six round unanimous decision win over Hungary’s Sandor Balogh. Teper dominated the fight from the first to the last bell connecting with a lot of hard punches. However, Balogh’s strong defense saved him from being stopped. „My hands are hurting from all the power shots I threw at him“, said Teper after the fight. „I have to give him props for surviving this battle. A knockout just happens – or it doesn’t. You cannot force it. Still a win is a win.“
In the most spectacular fight of the evening local hero Dejan Zlaticanin won the vacant WBC Mediterranean lightweight championship by outscoring Felix Lora from the Dominican Republic. Zlaticanin scored a flash knockdown in the first but Lora didn’t give in. In the end Zlaticanin deserved to win the belt in a competitive and very enteratining bout.
The other results of the night:
Misa Nikolic UD8 over Mugurel Sebe
Jakov Gospic KO2 over Sejfula Berisa
Drago Janjusevic UD4 Attila Makula