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.
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)
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)
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