"FIGHTERS IN ACTION"
- RESULTS FROM PANDRUP, DENMARK
03.12 - IBF Intercontinental Superwelterweight
Championship:
MICHAEL RASK W 12 Alfredo Cuevas (USA): In
an exiting punchout of 32-year-olds, Rask firmly set
himself up for another shot at higher honors, unanimously
outpointing Mexican-American Cuevas from Chicago to
capture the IBF’s version of the Intercontinental
title. The Dane, now 25-2 (10), suffered a cut over
the right eye in round eight, but kept his composure
even though Cuevas always threatened with a dangerous
left hook. Scores of 118:111 (Ove Ovesen, Denmark),
117:111 (Matteo Fratini, Italy) and 116:112 (Patrick
DeVooght, Belgium) let Cuevas dip to 18-4 (13).
ALLAN VESTER W 6 Mourad Fantazi
(France), Lightwelterweight: After back-to-back
losses to Zab Judah and Carlos Fernandes (on a cut
in a fight he was winning), getting the W was more
important than looking good for former world title
challenger Vester. Two cards of 58:54 and a 57:55
verdict made sure the Dane got back on the winning
trail, but he looked understandably apprehensive in
patches. A Fantazi right hook even put Vester briefly
on the canvas in the fourth, but he returned the compliment
in the last round when the Frenchman took a knee and
lost a tooth. Vester improves to 19-2-1 (3).
JESPER KRISTIANSEN W 6 William
O’Daniel (USA), Cruiserweight: Coming back
from a crushing KO loss in his last outing, Kristiansen
started cautiously, but soon dominated the stumpy
Kentucky man with fierce body shots. Though no knockdowns
occurred, O’Daniel was outclassed to such extend
that two judges gave the hometowner a two-point round
in the third. Thus, Kristiansen won a shutout (60:53
twice, 60:54) to lift his overall record to 20-2-1
(6) with 1 NC.
JAN JENSEN W 6 Paul Mpendo (Uganda),
Lightwelterweight: A fast-paced, interesting encounter,
though a lack of powerpunches made it an affair with
no real highlights. Jensen got better as the fight
progressed, inflicting a standing-eight-count in the
final round to be awarded a 59:54, 60:53 and 60:54
verdict for his 10th straight win.
Christopher Robert (France) W 6
RASMUS IVERSEN, Cruiserweight: Split decision
winner Robert (58:57 twice against a ridiculos 58:57
for Iversen) was actually a clear-cut victor and always
one step ahead. Though Iversen, who drops to 3-1-1
(1), showed willingness, he was painfully reminded
that it takes more to win even at this level.
PETER SVENDSEN D 4 Jean Marie Codet
(France), Bantamweight: Aggressive Codet surprised
Svendsen, putting him on the floor in the opener to
set the tone for a dramatic battle. When the baby-faced
Frenchman, boxing on the eve of his 20th
birthday, tired it allowed "The Showman"
to come back strong to save a fair majority draw.
Two cards read 38 apiece while one judge had Codet
up one point at 38:37
