World Series of Boxing

Lausanne, Feb 16, 2014: In a huge statement of intent, Team Germany overtook the USA Knockouts to go third in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) Group A after an excellent home performance. The Knockouts will now need to quickly regroup before next week’s match, which will see the rampant Germans visit them in Miami.

The Light Flyweights (46-49kg), Bantamweights (56kg), Light Welterweights (64kg), Middleweights (75kg) and Heavyweights (91kg) were contesting this bout.

Bout of the match

Edgar Walth took on star Indian boxer Shiva Thapa who was representing the USA Knockouts. This was a hotly contested bout at Bantamweight with both boxers trading some serious leather. The Knockouts fighter Thapa looked very sharp as he tried to work through the German’s tight guard. The later responded with aggressive bursts of body shots and viscous looking hooks, which did real damage when they landed. The German came out very hard in round four and really seemed to have the more powerful punches. But Thapa responded by making use of his greater speed and footwork. He couldn’t do enough to contain the hard hitting German however and in the end it was Walth who took the victory.

Boxer of the match

Artem Harutyunyan faced Carlos Adames of the Dominican Republic at Light Welterweight. The German boxer, though only making his WSB debut, made himself known on the global boxing stage at the AIBA World Boxing Championships Almaty 2013 last October. He is very much a front foot boxer, and enjoys employing a slightly ugly but nonetheless effective style of aggressive boxing. His opponent Adames has made an impression on the WSB this season for the Knockouts, especially after he won his Week 6 encounter against the Ukraine Otaman Vyacheslav Kyslytsyn. He is agile, tactical and has great footwork. This was a classic stylistic match-up but it was one that suited the German and his aggressive approach better. He sent out a clear message that he is a man of serious talent with the win over an athlete of Adames’ calibre.

The turning point

Josef Attanjaoui faced Anthony Campbell of the USA at a pivotal time of the evening. With the Germans already 3-0 up, Campbell had the chance to keep the Knockouts’ hopes of salvaging a point from the evening alive. Campbell is a very elusive fighter who uses great foot work to stay out of trouble. He is also very well-conditioned so he can maintain the tactic for the whole bout. The German however was the more aggressive, and that counts heavily on the judges’ score cards. The American wasn’t offering enough offensively for his hit-and-move game plan to work in his favour, and the front foot boxer from Germany took the Middleweight bout comfortably in the end. The unlucky Campbell now goes 0-4 in his WSB career despite clearly having some good boxing skills, hopefully for the Knockouts’ sake his luck will turn soon. But it was a great WSB debut for Attanjaoui.

Fact/Stat of the match

Artem Harutyunyan fought just a day after his brother Robert competed for Team Germany against the Ukraine Otamans. This makes them the first brothers to compete for the German Franchise. Another interesting fact about the brothers is that before they took up boxing, they both competed internationally for Germany as kids in the sport of Tae Kwan Do. If you think it must be in the blood, then you are right, as their father is both a Tae Kwan Do black belt and a Referee & Judge with the German Boxing Federation.

Wrap up

Light Flyweight Noberto Torres of the USA went out first for his team against Serge Neumann. The two nineteen year olds were both making their debuts. Neumann looked the more composed in the ring early on. The local boxer also had a reach advantage which he put to good use. He out-gunned the American boxer to take a win for the German team.

Artur Mann of Team Germany and Earl Newman of the USA contested an interesting final bout. The two tough Heavyweight athletes really went for each other, with the American trying to work his solid left jab against a very physical opponent, who did his own work from behind a high guard. The German coaches looked the happiest at the final bell though as it was indeed their boxer who won the bout. Both athletes showed great respect for each other following the fight, with the American publically applauding Mann’s performance.

Coming up next

The USA have the chance to get their revenge sooner rather than latter as we have another head to head between the USA Knockouts and Team Germany next week in Miami when the C2 weight category fighters will lock horns for the rematch. This will be a critical bout with the Regular Season almost over and places in the Playoffs needing to be secured. —- WSB