APB Inaugural Title Matches: Results

Baku (Azerbaijan) and Istanbul hosted the first round of the APB Inaugural Title Matches for 91+ kg, 75 kg and 69 kg with the following results.

APB Champion Erik Pfeifer

SUPER HEAVY 91+ KG – FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY (19:30 GMT+4)
Location: Baku – Venue: Sarhadchi Complex
APB Champion: Erik PFEIFER (GER)

Germany’s Erik Pfeifer, a two-time AIBA World Championship bronze medallist, was crowned the first Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion in the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Inaugural Title Match in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Both Pfeifer and Arjaoui had won all three of their preliminary bouts coming into the Inaugural Title Match at Baku’s Sarhadchi Complex. Pfeifer started the contest well, his punches landing more sharply and accurately than his African opponent. Later, Pfeifer’s extra energy and experience saw him outclass his opponent in the final two rounds, as he pulled away on points. After eight rounds, the final scorecards read 78:74 across the board in favour of Pfeifer who became the first APB Inaugural Titleholder.

Match schedule:

19:30: Ahmed SAMIR (EGY) W.O. vs Sergiy VERVEYKO (UKR) (Exhibition Match: Ahmed Samir (EGY) vs Ali Kiydin (GER) W.P. 55:59/ 55:59/ 56:58)
20:00: Tony YOKA (FRA) vs Mihai NISTOR (ROM) W.O.
20:30: Magomedrasul MEDZHIDOV (AZE) vs Magomed OMAROV (RUS) W.P. (57:57/ 57:57/ 58:56)
21:00: Mohammed ARJAOUI (MAR) vs Erik PFEIFER (GER) W.P. (74:78/ 74:78/ 74:78) APB Inaugural Champion

MIDDLE 75 KG – FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY (21:00 GMT+2)
Location: Istanbul – Venue: Caferaga Spor Salonu
APB Champion: Adem KILCCI (TUR)

The Middleweight (75 kg) division has been one of the most entertaining weight classes in AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) so far, and Istanbul, Turkey was the location for the first Inaugural Title Match which took place between hometown star Adem Kilicci and Russia’s number one seed Artem Chebotarev. Kilicci has been virtually unstoppable throughout his career in the competition so far, and won by scores of 80:72, 78:74, and 78:73.

The new Champion won the first six rounds on every scorecard, and though his work dropped off a little towards the end of the fight, his quality was clear throughout, and he was the deserved winner.

Match schedule:

21:00: Marlo DELGADO (ECU) vs Nickson ABAKA (KEN) W.P (57:57/ 58:56/ 55:59)
21:30: Hosam ABDIN (EGY) vs Dmytro MYTROFANOV (UKR) W.P. (56:58/ 56:58/ 58:56)
22:00: Michel TAVARES (FRA) W.P. (57:57/ 59:55/ 57:57) vs Bogdan JURATONI (ROM)
22:30: Adem KILICCI (TUR) W.P. (80:72/ 78:74/ 79:73) APB Inaugural Champion vs Artem CHEBOTAREV (RUS)

APB “Inaugural Title Match” Middle (75 Kg) Weight In (Istanbul)

WELTER 69 KG – SATURDAY, 24 JANUARY (19:30 GMT+4)
Location: Baku – Venue: Sarhadchi Complex
APB Champion: Onur SIPAL (TUR)

Sipal, following in the footsteps of compatriot and fellow titleholder Adem Kilicci, faced Kenya’s Rayton Okwiri in Baku in a rematch of an earlier APB match which was won by the Turkish fighter.

Sipal was performing at a different level to his African opponent though, and the now 4-0 APB superstar reasserted his control of the bout in the fifth and sixth rounds, which meant that Okwiri would need a knockout to win the Title. Kenya’s new hero tried his very best to achieve that in the seventh round, and he gave himself hope by winning the round across the board, and taking the contest into a final frame.

The new Turkish Champion kept his focus in the last round, winning it on two scorecards, and displaying his boxing skills which have enabled him to remain undefeated in the competition.

Match schedule:

19:30: Gyula KATE (HUN) W.O. vs Marcos NADER (AUT) (Exhibition Match: Gyula Kate (HUN) W.P. (60:54/ 60:54/ 60:54) vs Onder SIPAL (TUR))
20:00: Denys LAZAREV (UKR) vs Andrei ZAMKOVOY (RUS) W.P. (54:60/ 55:59/ 56:58)
20:30: Eimantas STANIONIS (LTU) W.P. (59:55/ 59:55/ 59:55) vs Tamerlan ABDULLAYEV (AZE)
21:00: Onur SIPAL (TUR) W.P. (78:74/ 78:74/ 78:74) APB Inaugural Champion vs Rayton OKWIRI (KEN)

“There Is No Offer Similar To APB In The Boxing World Today” – Austrian APB Welterweight Marcos Nader

APB logo, AIBA

A wonderfully talented squad of welterweight boxers will make up the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) 69kg category with multiple champions, former Olympians and well-established professionals confirmed to take part.

Amongst the star-studded pack of boxers in the division is the former European Union title holder in the pro ranks Marcos Nader, who is widely regarded as the most successful Austrian boxer of this era, and who will carry the expectations of a whole nation when he steps into the ring at APB. His eyes are firmly set on qualification for Rio 2016, where he will have the chance to create history and secure boxing success for Austria at the Olympic Games.

Speaking today at a press conference in Vienna, where the Austrian Boxing Federation and APB announced his signing, Nader said: “I have been approached by many promoters recently with various offers, however it is clear that nobody is able to offer me the great opportunity that APB can – to qualify for the Olympic Games and realize the ultimate goal of any athlete.

It is very important for me that AIBA is aiming to identify authentic champions in each weight category through this competition via a merit-based ranking system.

“I am looking forward to the wonderful challenge that APB brings, as the competition in my category will be really tough. I will do my best to qualify for the Olympic Games and then obviously to bring home a medal for Austria.”

Marcos Nader photo credit-Peoplecheck.de

The President of the European Confederation Mr. Franco Falcinelli, Vice-President of AIBA and Member of the AIBA Executive Committee, who also attended the press-conference in Vienna, added: “Marcos has every chance of achieving the Olympic dream for Austria in 2016. This would be an excellent achievement for him and for the whole country.”

Daniel Nader, coach and brother to Marcos Nader, said: “The participation of Marcos in such a prestigious competition program as APB is also crucial for the development of our beloved sport on a national basis. It will boost its popularity, raise the profile of its stars, develop role models for future generations and increase the participation in boxing at grassroots level.”

Joining the mercurial Nader at 69kg are Russian 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Andrey Zamkovoy and German Arajik Marutijan, the bronze medallist at the 2013 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Almaty.

Azerbaijani battler and former WBO European champion Fariz Mammadov lines up alongside Hungary’s hugely experienced double Olympian and double AIBA World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Gyula Kate.

Completing the line-up are Turkish 2008 Olympian Onur Sipal, Kenyan All-Africa Games bronze medallist Rayton Okwiri and 2007 European Junior Boxing Championships gold medallist Denys Lazarev from Ukraine, who are all looking to make their name in APB and grasp a coveted qualification place for Rio 2016.