By Jim Dower: Alexander Dimitrenko (40-3, 26 KOs) pulled off a big upset last Saturday night in destroying unbeaten IBF International heavyweight champion Adrian Granat (14-1, 13 KOs) in the 1st round in their fight at the Baltiska Hallen, in Malmo, Sweden. The 6’7” Dimitrenko knocked the 25-year-old Granat down twice in the 1st round before the fight was halted by referee Timo Habighorst. The official time of the stoppage was at 2:07 of round one.
Robert Stieglitz
Robert Stieglitz vs. Mehdi Amar for EBU title
By Allan Fox: 35-year-old former two-time super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (49-5-1, 29 KOs) will be challenging EBU light heavyweight champion Mehdi Amar (33-4-2, 16 KOs) for his EBU title, according to Fight News.
The negotiations are currently underway. #6 WBO, #15 WBC expects to beat Amar in a fight that he’s looking to have staged in Germany, and from there, he wants to fight for a world title. It’s unclear whether he wants to fight at super middleweight or at light heavyweight.
It might be the best idea for him to fight IBF/WBA/WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev. Stieglitz would do better against WBA World 175lb champion Juergen Braehmer, because he’s considered to be the weak ink among the current champions in the division.
What we learned last weekend
By Gav Duthie: A very interesting weekend of boxing has been and gone with various ramifications arising for future fights across the divisions. We witnessed top level action from Germany, the UK And the US and after catching up with it all this is what I have surmised.
Crolla is one unlucky guy
For most fans after Saturday night Anthony Crolla is a champion without the belt. For anyone who believes in Karma they may have to re-think after Crolla a local hero was once again robbed of his chance to realize a dream.
Arthur Abraham stops Stieglitz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOFNTCNH4TM
By Jim Dower: WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (43-4. 29 KOs) came out on top tonight in defeating 34-year-old Robert Stieglitz (47-5-1, 27 KOs) by a 6th round knockout on Saturday night at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany. Fighting each other for the fourth time in the last three years, Abraham knocked Stieglitz down twice in the contest.
Abraham battles Stieglitz tonight in “Final Showdown”
(Photo Credit: SAT.1 / Frank Zauritz) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) will be fighting former WBO 168lb belt holder Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) in a fight called the “Final Showdown” at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany.
It’s a mandatory defense for the 35-year-old Abraham, which gives him and his promoters at Sauerland Events an excuse to make the fight with Stieglitz. However, given the money that the first three fights between them have generated, it was clear that Abraham was going to fight Stieglitz in 2015 anyway.
Abraham 167.6, Stieglitz 167.3 – Official Weights
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: 35-year-old WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) successfully made weight today, coming in at 167.6 pounds for his title defense against former WBO 168lb champion Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) on Saturday night at the Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Stieglitz weighed in at 167.3lbs. He says he knows how to beat Abraham. The plan will likely revolve around Stieglitz throwing nonstop punches for three minutes of every round. It worked for Stieglitz in his second fight against Abraham in 2013, but it failed last year, when Stieglitz gassed out in the last four rounds and lost a 12 round split decision.
Abraham wants bigger fights after Stieglitz
(Photo credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: If WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (42-4 28 KOs) can somehow get past #1 WBO Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) in their fourth fight together on July 18th, the Abraham says he wants to look to try and unify the 168lb titles by facing the other champions in his weight class.
Abraham says he doesn’t want to keep fighting Stieglitz. The money has got to be good for Abraham to keep facing Stieglitz over and over again, but it looks like Abraham wants to try and actually accomplish something rather than fighting Stieglitz in endless rematches.
Arthur Abraham not worried about Stieglitz’s power
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: The fourth fight between WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) and former WBO 168lb champ Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) is only two and a half weeks away for their fight on July 18th at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany.
Abraham’s trainer Ulli Wegner has been bragging about how Abraham has been dropping bigger cruiserweights left and right during training camp. Wegner doesn’t say who these so-called cruiserweights or, so we’re left having to take what he says at face value rather than being able to see for ourselves or from the cruiserweights about these sparring sessions.
Abraham and Stieglitz square off on July 18th
By Scott Gilfoid: WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) will continue with his long series of fights against Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) when the two of them face each other for the 4th, and not likely the final time, two months from now on July 18th at the Gerry Weber Stadium, in Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
Arthur Abraham faces Robert Stieglitz on July 18th
(Photo Credit: Sebastian Heger) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO 168 pound champion Arthur Abraham (42-4, 28 KOs) will be facing his old nemesis #1 WBO Robert Stieglitz (47-4-1, 27 KOs) in their fourth encounter two months from now on July 18th at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany. They’ve fought previously three times with Abraham winning two of them and losing one.
Abraham, 35, says this will be his last fight against the 33-year-old Stieglitz, but I doubt it. If the WBO keeps giving Stieglitz a high ranking, we’ll likely continue to see Abraham and Stieglitz fight in the future.