Germany’s Erik Pfeifer, a two-time AIBA World Championship bronze medallist, was last night crowned the first Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion in the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Inaugural Title Match in Baku, Azerbaijan.
After eight rounds, the final scorecards read 78:74 across the board in favour of Pfeifer against his opponent, Morocco’s Mohammed Arjaoui. The German becomes the first APB Inaugural Titleholder, as well as the first German Super heavyweight World Champion since Max Schmeling.
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.
In order to officially qualify to compete at Rio 2016, Pfeifer must defend his title in the APB Cycle 1 Title Bout. Doing so, he will automatically be awarded an Olympic quota place as both contenders, Champion and Challenger, earn Olympic quota places. Cycle 1 is scheduled to start in March 2015.
Two more APB Inaugural Title Matches take place this week-end:
• WELTER 69kg (Baku, Azerbaijan – 24/01): Onur SIPAL (Turkey) vs Rayton OKWIRI (Kenya)
• MIDDLE 75kg (Istanbul, Turkey – 23/01): Adem KILICCI (Turkey) vs Artem CHEBOTAREV (Russia)
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