The World Boxing Super Series has announced that former WBA and WBO light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (48-3, 35 KOs) will be coming down in weight to participate in the inaugural season of the World Boxing Super Series, joining WBA champion George Groves as well as undefeated challengers Erik Skoglund and Jamie Cox in the super-middleweight competition. The remaining four participants will be unveiled in the next days, with all eight fighters coming face-to-face at the Draft Gala next Saturday to hand-pick their quarter-final opponents.
Judge Waleska Roldan had it 117-111 (9-3 in rounds), judges Chris Flores and Ramon Cerdan had it 115-113 (7-5 in rounds).
In a major upset, unbeaten challenger and hometown favorite, Jeff Horn (17-0-1, 11 KOs) scored a controversial twelve round unanimous decision over WBO welterweight champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 KOs) in front of 55,000+ at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on Sunday afternoon (Saturday night in the USA).
In a grudge match, former world title challenger Karo Murat (30-3-1, 19 KOs) scored an eleventh round TKO over previously unbeaten WBO #2, WBA #6, IBF #6 light heavyweight Dominic Bösel (24-1, 9 KOs) to claim the vacant European title on Saturday night at the BallsportARENA in Dresden, Germany. Murat was aggressive and looked to rough up Boesel. Classic boxer Boesel fired back in quick spurts. Boesel upped his punch output in round four, but still took some big shots. Murat seemed to be slowing down by round five, while Boesel’s workmate increased. Murat continued to bring pressure and throw the harder shots while Boesel flurried. The end came in round eleven when Murat rocked Boesel and referee Terry O’Connor waved it off with Boesel under heavy fire! Time was 2:56.
Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (32-1, 23 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Andriy Rudenko (31-3, 19 KOs), on Saturday night at Luzhniki Concert Hall in Moscow, Russia. After some rough housing in a round one clinch, there was a long delay when Rudenko claimed to be injured from a rabbit punch. With no DQ forthcoming, the fight continued and went the full twelve with Povetkin winning 120-109, 120-108, 120-108. Povetkin earned the vacant WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International heavyweight titles.
In his first bout since losing his IBF world title last December, super lightweight Eduard Troyanovsky (26-1, 23 KOs) destroyed former Euro champ Michele Di Rocco (41-3-1, 18 KOs) in four rounds on Saturday night at the Luzhniki Concert Hall in Moscow. Troyanovsky dropped Di Rocco in rounds one and three, both times with right hands. Two more knockdowns in round four ended it. Time was 2:18.
The World Boxing Super Series has announced that the inaugural season will feature ALL four reigning cruiserweight champions. WBO titlist & Olympic gold medal winner Oleksandr Usyk (12-0, 10 KOs) has officially joined the revolutionary bracket-style elimination tournament that already features unbeaten champions Yunier Dorticos (WBA), Mairis Briedis (WBC) and Murat Gassiev (IBF) as well as former champions Marco Huck and Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, with two more spots to be filled. On July 8, all participants will come face-to-face at the Draft Gala in Monaco where they will hand-pick their quarter-final opponents.
Undefeated bantamweight Oscar “Jaguar” Negrete (17-0, 7 KOs) scored an eighth round TKO against Sergio “El Frio” Frias (18-6-2, 9 KOs) to claim the vacant NABF title at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California.
Unbeaten IBF lightweight world champion Robert Easter (20-0, 14 KOs) retained his title with a twelve round unanimous decision over mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov (38-3-1, 20 KOs) on Friday night at the half-full Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Szpilka and Kownacki spoke to press at Krolewski Jadlo Restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn before heading to Johnny's Café in Queens for a meet and greet with fans.
