By Karl Freitag
Photo: Eroll Popova
In a highly anticipated WBO super middleweight world championship clash, unbeaten #1 contender Karoly Balszay (20-0, 14 KOs) dethroned previously unbeaten champion Denis Inkin (34-1, 24 KOs) via entertaining twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Bördelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany. Both fighters met in the center of the ring and boxed at a high level, but the champion’s pressure dictated the first half of the fight. Balzsay’s southpaw counterpunching got him back in the fight down the stretch. Balzsay rocked Inkin at the end of round ten and went on to win by scores of 115-113, 116-112, 116-112.
———-
By Alexey Sukachev
In the first “Universum Champions Night” of 2009, unbeaten long time WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (30-0, 17 KOs) outpointed former Euro champ Yuri Barashian (25-5, 17 KOs) over twelve rounds in a non-title bout. Erdei won by scores of 116-111, 116-111, 117-110. Barashyan had some success with his hard blows, but Erdei’s speed allowed him to control the fight. Barashian was deducted a point in round nine for a low blow. The bout was changed to a non-title affair after Barashian failed to make the 175lb weight limit.
