Photo: Eroll Popova
See all the action from the first “Universum Champions Night” of 2009 including Karoly Balszay’s win over previously unbeaten champion Denis Inkin to claim the WBO super middleweight crown, the same title held by Joe Calzaghe for ten-plus years.
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By Karl Freitag/Alexey Sukachev
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.
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.
Two former super middleweight title challengers and a pair of hot prospects saw action on the undercard of Saturday’s “Universum Champions Night” card at the Bördelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany. Recent WBA super middleweight title challenger and current WBA #4 rated Dimitri Sartison (24-1, 15 KOs) scored a one-sided eight round unanimous decision over Vasily Andiyanov (7-18) by scores of 79-73, 80-72, 80-72. It was Sartison’s second win since challenging Mikkel Kessler in June.
Also, only about a month after his big victory over Lukas Wilaschek, WBC International super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (34-2, 21 KOs) scored a fourth round TKO over Dimitri Protkunas (10-28-1, 1 KO). Time was 1:47. Stieglitz is currently rated WBA/IBF #5 and WBC #10.
In other action, unbeaten light heavyweight Igor Michalkin (7-0, 6 KOs) knocked out Sergey Beloshapkin (7-3, 2 KOs) at 2:59 of round two. The hard-hitting Michalkin dropped Beloshapkin in rounds two and four.
Also, flyweight prospect Pal “Pimpa” Bedak moved to 2-0, 2 KOs with a third round TKO of Ucristinel Laurent (0-1).
