Manerba del Garda, Italy, hosted the AIBA Pro Boxing Light Welter and Light Heavyweight Cycle I Round 1 on June 27th with the following match results.
LIGHT WELTER 64 KG – Location: Manerba del Garda – Venue: Palazzetto dello Sport
APB Light Welterweights Harutyunyan and Chadi both win to set up incredible Cycle I Round 2 clash
Two outstanding Light Welterweight (64 kg) matches in AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Cycle I Round 1 delighted the watching crowd on Saturday night at Palazzetto dello Sport, Manerba del Garda Italy.
In the main event of the evening, number one ranked Artem Harutyunyan (GER) was in amazing form against Evaldas Petrauskas (LIT), and earned a near shutout victory over his decorated opponent in the process.
Harutyunyan used his jab effectively in the opening stages of the bout to create a vital distance between himself and his opponent, which allowed him to land often with accurate punches.
Petrauskas tried to get his own shots off, but was negated constantly by the stoic defence of the German.
The first few rounds of the fight followed a similar pattern, as the reach advantage of Harutyunyan enabled him to stay out of range and attack when he felt it was necessary.
Control is a key aspect Harutyunyan’s boxing style, and he used that technique time and time again in this contest.
Petrauskas constantly worked hard and occasionally managed to get through with some rapid combinations, but Harutyunyan’s grip of the fight was too great to break consistently.
After all eight rounds had been completed, Harutyunyan had won every round according to two scorecards, while the third judge awarded the German the victory by seven rounds to one.
Harutyunyan will now fight Abdelkader Chadi (ALG) in Cycle I Round 2 after the African star convincingly outpointed Carlos Aquino (ARG).
Chadi’s work-rate was exemplary throughout the eight round distance, and his stamina allowed him to evade the power punches of Aquino while peppering his South American opponent with constant shots.
Match Resuls:
- Artem HARUTYUNYAN (GER) W.P. (80:72/80:72/79:73) vs Evaldas PETRAUSKAS (LTU)
- Carlos AQUINO (ARG) vs Abdelkader CHADI (ALG) W.P. (74:78/74:78/74:78)
LIGHT WELTER 64 KG – Location: Manerba del Garda – Venue: Palazzetto dello Sport
Nikita Ivanov secures vital Light Heavyweight victory over Abdelhafid Benchabla
The final two Light Heavyweight (81 kg) matches of AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Cycle I Round 1 took place on Saturday night at Palazzetto dello Sport, Manerba del Garda, Italy, and Russian fans of APB will be delighted after fifth ranked 2013 European Champion Nikita Ivanov (RUS) defeated 28-year-old Abdelhafid Benchabla (ALG) by split decision.
Both boxers carry power, and there was heavy shots galore from the opening seconds of the bout, as each man looked to gain supremacy in the early stages.
Benchabla won the first round with accurate combination punching, before Ivanov made his way back into the bout by using flurries of his own.
The Russian star proceeded to dominate the next three rounds of the intense contest, and sent his Algerian opponent down to the canvas in round four after a brutal right hand.
Signifying his undoubted toughness, Benchabla did not wilt despite the immense pressure he was facing, and he changed his tactics to some success.
Gone was his in-fighting of the first half of the event, and he began to use his jab and reach to deflect the power punches he was constantly threatened with.
Despite the late rally, Ivanov kept busy which ensured he was not overwhelmed by the desperate onslaught of Benchabla.
At the close of the fight, it was the Russian whose work the judges narrowly preferred as he won the bout 78:74, while Benchabla was favoured 77-75 according to the third judge.
Ivanov will now meet Serge Michel (GER) in Cycle I Round 2 after the German star defeated Oybek Mamazulunov (UZB) in Italy.
Michel won the first three rounds of their contest, before Mamazulunov was forced to pull out due to a hand injury.
Match Resuls:
- Nikita IVANOV (RUS) W.P. (78:74/75:77/78:74) vs Abdelhafid BENCHABLA (ALG)
- Serge MICHEL (GER) TKO R4 vs Oybek MAMAZULUNOV (UZB)
