Juergen Braehmer decisions Roberto Bolonti

By Boxing News - 06/07/2014 - Comments

By Scott Gilfoid: WBA World light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (44-2, 32 KO’s) successfully defended his title against #14 WBA fringe contender Roberto Bolonti (35-3, 24 KO’s) in beating him by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Sport and Congress Center, Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. The final judges’ scores were 118-109, 119-109, and 119-108.

The bout was marred by the constant clinching by Braehmer, as he he was grabbing at Bolonti between 7-10 times per round with clinches. A frustrated Bolonti did the only thing he could do and that was to nail Braehmer with shots while he was being held. The referee gave Bolonti several warnings for Bolonti punching Braehmer on the side of the head while being held. Finally the referee deducted a point from Bolonti in the 8th round. The referee failed to warn Braehmer for his constant holding.

Bolonti suffered a bloody nose in the 7th round from the hard jabs that Braehmer was landing from the outside. Bolonti, who is little more than a pumped up middleweight, didn’t have the size to compete with the much bigger and heavier looking Braehmer when there was distance between them. Bolonti needed to be in closer range for him to land his big power shots. Unfortunately every time Bolonti would get in close enough to let his shots go, Braehmer would grab him in a clinch and prevent him from throwing his shots.

In rounds 9 through 12, Bolonti really came on as he turned up his offensive output and was able to pound Braehmer with chopping punches. The 12th round was especially exciting with Bolonti tagging Braehmer with punch and after punch while the German crowd cheered him loudly. Bolonti, with his aggressive attacks, had won over Braehmer’s German crowd with his big shots. It looked at one point that Bolonti hurt Braehmer with a left hand to the head, because he was holding on for life. When the referee separated them, Braehmer immediately grabbed Bolonti with another clinch which kind of gave a good indication that he’d been hurt with a shot.

After the fight there was talk that Braehmer’s promoters at Sauerland want to match him up against IBF/WBA light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins next, and that they feel confident they can get the fight next. That’s quite possible that they could get Hopkins next if they wave enough money under B-Hop’s snoot. For the right money, Hopkins will likely take the Braehmer fight next rather than a far more dangerous fight against Adonis Stevenson.



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