Showtime Saturday night from Berlin, Germany featured hometown favorite Arthur Abraham defending his IBF middleweight strap against Mahir Oral of Hamburg, Germany.

 

Abraham enters at 29-0 with 23 stoppages - Oral arrives at 25-1-2 with 10 KO’s - Oral also arrives as heavy underdog to the bigger punching champion - and then the bell for round one with Oral in the role of aggressor, and Abraham taking notes over the opening 3-minutes.

 

Between rounds we hear from commentators Nicky Charles and best friend Steve Farhood repeatedly agreeing that Abraham is a slow starter - again in stanza two it’s the taller at 6’1 Oral the far busier - and again from the magic-lantern a reminder that the bigger puncher is a slow starter.

 

Round three the action picks up with Abraham finished taking notes - still, the lighter punching Oral gets the nod in a close stanza - and then in round four the champion shows signs of coming alive - late in the round it’s a counter left hook/ right hand combo, and Oral hit’s the canvas.

 

With Abraham taking charge over rounds eight and nine, it appeared the handwriting was on the wall - then number ten and we see the challenger down not once, twice, but three times from assorted power punches that went body to head - corner throws in the towel.

 

Post Scripts:

• Arthur Abraham ( 30-0, 24 KOs) ~ age 29 - IBF champ stands only behind dual title holder Kelly Pavlik of WBC/WBO fame. In style and grit, on paper it makes for a dandy. Neither a slickster, but equally meaningful in the power punch department. King Arthur, during post fight interview gave a Pavlik fight the green light. If not, he has no problem with stepping up a rung to 165.
• Mahir Oral (25-2-2, 10 KOs) ~ age 29, at 6’ 1”  has size and willingness to exchange - problem is shortage of serious punching power. Think maybe the future is being a force at the club fight level. Will not be boring.

Closing comments: Ref. Earl Brown worked good fight up to a point - could have given the no-mas in stanza ten prior to the third knockdown. The Oral corner, as well saw fit only after knockdown three, to locate the missing towel.

 

 GEL