ABC News
May 4 2014
Abraham Retains WBO Belt Despite ‘Broken Hand’
BERLIN May 4, 2014 (AP)
Arthur Abraham retained his WBO super middleweight belt by defeating
Nikola Sjekloca of Montenegro by unanimous decision on Saturday.
The judges awarded it 117-113, 116-112, 119-110 to the defending
champion, who relied primarily on his left jab after suggesting during
the bout that he broke his right hand.
“I don’t want to make excuses but I had to box the fight with my
left,” Abraham said. “The fingers were already broken from the last
fight. I had to do a lot with the left in training. That’s why it was
so close, though he’s also a good fighter.”
The Armenian-born German improved to 40-4 (28 KOs) after defending the
title he won back from Robert Stieglitz by split decision on March 1.
Abraham relied increasingly on his left jab as the bout went on. He
indicated his right hand was broken only to be told by Ulli Wegner,
his trainer, to carry on.
“It’s all the same to me if your hand is sore,” the veteran trainer
said. “It’s about staying the champion. You’ve enough time afterward
to heal it.”
Abraham did enough to hang on.
Sjekloca, who dropped to 26-2 (8 KOs), suggested he wasn’t fully
focused as he’s about to become a father to twins.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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