KRACIK TAKES CZECH CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE
TWO OTHER TITLE FIGHTS END IN INDECISIVE DRAWS!!

IBF INTERCONTINENTAL CRUISERWEIGHT BELT STILL UNCLAIMED! 
SUDA / ABDOUL MAIN EVENT ENDS IN A DRAW !!

CZECH INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT TITLE STILL UP FOR GRABS!!
VELOZO / ADAMEK ENDS IN CONFUSING ERRONEOUS ANNOUNCEMENT!!

October 7, 2006

Top Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

By Larry Goodsite with Petr Benda at ringside
Photos Courtesy OK-KO Promotions

SUDA DRAWS ABDOUL
Lubos SUDA from the Czech Republic(14-1-1 10ko) escaped with a draw against Ismail ABDOUL of Belgium (27-10-2 10ko), and the IBF Intercontinental World Championship title still remains unclaimed after Thursday evening’s OK-KO Promotion’s boxing card at Prague's TOP HOTEL. Suda appeared to many observers to be losing the fight to Abdoul, who utilized a very effective snappy left jab, which controlled his popular Czech opponent for most of the early to middle rounds. However each round of the fight was closely contested, and neither fighter was ever in serious trouble or knocked down. The sellout crowd in the Top Hotel Congress Hall was treated to an entertaining bout between two willing combatants.  The locals’ wild cheering seemed to urge and inspire the Czech favorite Suda to rally in the later rounds to salvage the draw.  “I’m very disappointed [with the draw],” Abdoul told ArizonaFightNews after the fight. “I thought I was very effective in controlling the fight with my jab, and won the fight.  But I know the dangers of fighting in another country against one of their own, so…”  Rematch?  “Sure. Absolutely!”  he replied. “Anytime, anywhere.  But maybe it should be in Belgium.”

STILL MUCH MORE TO COME HERE ON THESE FIGHTS !
CHECK BACK HERE IN NEXT FEW DAYS FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE...MORE PHOTOS AND REPORTS SOON !!!

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Lukas Konecny Wins WBO & IBF Inter-Continental Belts!

RUDOLF KRAJ AND LADISLAV KUTIL ALSO TAKE TITLES IN PRAGUE'S SAZKA ARENA BOXING DEBUT!!

May 10, 2006
Prague, Czech Republic

By Larry Goodsite with Michal Bezdeka at ringside
Photos Courtesy Kurt Vinion / www.kurtvinion.com

Read my related story in the Prague Post...click here!
www.praguepost.com

KONECNY BESTS BILIC
Lukas "The Surgeon" KONECNY from the Czech Republic(31-2-0 15ko) dissected previously undefeated Ante "Boom Boom" BILIC from Croatia (15-1-0 9ko) to capture the IBF and WBO Inter-Continental Super-Welterweight World Championship titles in the inaugural boxing card at Prague's SAZKA ARENA. Young "Boom Boom" mostly went just "Bada Bing" as the wily and popular Czech veteran Konecny used his flurry-style strategy and castle-like defensive posture to outclass the tough, 22-year old Croatian in winning a unanimous 12-round decision. In what amounted to a mostly boring and predictable fight, the 8000+ mostly Czech fans in attendance cheered wildly for their hero each time he would exit his defensive shell with a barrage of carefully-timed punches to Bilic's body and head. It was clearly an effective strategy, if not a most exciting one boxing-wise, for the 27-year-old, who had correctly predicted earlier in the week that he would win the battle by decision over twelve rounds. Konecny is a very bright, affable fighter who knows how to work the crowd, as well as how to outsmart his opponents, and was hardly winded at all during the fight. "I am not even tired," he modestly proclaimed after the fight. "He [Bilic] is a tough fighter, but my experience enabled me to prevail," Konecny concluded. Bilic acquitted himself well while suffering his first defeat as a professional, and is a very talented 22-year-old who learned a great deal from the experience. He has a bright boxing future still ahead of him.

KUTIL DECISIONS VARGA
In the 12-round Co-Main Event for the IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Championship, Hungarian Light Heavyweight Istvan VARGA (11-3-0 5ko) lost a unanimous decision to another local favorite, Ladislav KUTIL also from the Czech Republic (15-0-0 3ko). Kutil was awarded every round against his awkward opponent by the judges, but failed to impress with his noticeable lack of punching power in failing to put away his forward-moving foe who provided an easy target throughout the fight. Nevertheless, it was a very popular win for Czech fighter, but one has to ask how far his career can progress without a knockout punch.

KRAJ OVERWHELMS VELECKY
Cruiserweight bruiser Rudolf KRAJ from the Czech Republic easily was the most impressive fighter of the evening as he continued his undefeated record (7-0 6ko) with a most impressive performance in winning the International CZ Champhionship. Demonstrating devastating power and ringsmanship in dominating fellow countryman Jindrich VELECKY (6-2-0 5), the 28-year-old former Olympic Silver-medalist let it be known that his world-class boxing skills are ready for bigger and better bouts. The well-schooled Kraj was magnificent to watch in the ring, as he threw his relentless power punches from every angle, sometimes off his sharp jab and sometimes with right hand leads, to constantly pressure the game and capable Velecky. The much shorter Velecky, stockily built in his own right, and a very worthy opponent, simply couldn't match-up physically with his bigger and stronger foe, and for his part deserves a lot of credit for simply surviving the Kraj onslaught over ten rounds! Kraj was simply too dangerous for Velecky to drop his highly-held gloves defensive protective posture, and thus he could rarely reach Kraj with any effective punches during the entire fight. He was very game and willing, but in the end had no solution for the daunting task at hand.

SARTISON KO'S BILAK
In easily the most entertaining fight of the night, Super Middleweight sensation Dimitri SARTISON (16-0-0 11ko) had all he could handle against another last minute replacement, Czech Republic's Michal BILAK (13-2-0 7ko). Both fighters were impressive with their boxing skills and traded punches from the opening bell, with Bilak getting the better of his Kazakhstani opponent over the first four rounds. The Czech fighter stalked Sartison from the opening bell, and demonstrated boxing toughness and acumen equal to his more experienced opponent. On most observers' scorecards Bilak had won each of the first four rounds and Sartison was headed for the first defeat of his brilliant career.

Both fighters scored effectively in a very even 5th round, but Sartison came out with renewed fire and purpose in the 6th Round, knowing that he was far behind in the fight and would probably need a knockout to win. Near the end of Round 6 he caught Bilak flush on the chin with a hard right hand, putting the Czech down for the first time in the fight, and winning the round in a much needed 10-8 way. But the fighter from Kazakhstan, now living in Hamburg, Germany, knew it still would not be enough. He needed a knockout within the last two rounds to win the fight and not let the decision be left to the judges, in order to preserve his undefeated record.

And so it was in Round 7 that the still aggressive and confident Czech fighter got careless again against the dangerous Dimitri Sartison. Caught again with a left/right combination that put him down for the second time in the round, and for the third time in the fight, Bilak managed to get off the canvas and barely to his feet. But he was clearly dazed and hurt, nearly defenseless, and in serious danger of receiving more punishment. Before Referee Jurgen Langos could step in, Bilak's trainer Werner Kirsch wisely threw a towel into the ring, and Langos stepped in to stop the fight.

Sartison had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and the worthy Michal Bilak, disappointed, went home knowing that his performance nearly gained him an upset victory. But, as has been said many times before, close only counts in horseshoes...

UNDERCARD

SCHUSTER/BOTOS
In the opening bout of the evening, last minute substitute fighter Zsolt BOTOS from the Czech Republic was easily outclassed over 6 rounds by Germany's Norman SCHUSTER (8-1-0 2ko).

PARISI/WEJS
In a grandstanding performance against Lubomir WEJS from Slovakia (3-7-1), 38-year-old former 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and WBO Jr Welterweight and Lightweight Champion Giovanni "Flash" PARISI (41-4-1 29ko) won by TKO at 2:26 of the 6th Round of a scheduled 8-rounder. Fighting for only the third time in the last six years, Parisi grunted, danced, and played his way to a 6th Round TKO victory over his completely overmatched opponent. Referee Jurgen Langos stopped the bout at 2:26 after a left/right combination by Parisi decked Wejs and had the Slovakian on queer street as he stumbled to his feet.

ROTH/BOROK
In the most obvious mismatch of the evening, Germany's undefeated Heavyweight Dieter ROTH (7-0-0 4ko) destroyed winless Robert BOROK from Slovakia (0-6-2) with a overwhelming early second round TKO. Referee Joachim Jacobsen stopped the carnage at 1:14, after Borok was dropped and knocked senseless by the much taller and stronger German fighter.

LUKASIK/BEREZENKO
Little crowd interest was evident as Super Welterweight Karolina LUKASIK from Poland (2-0-0) easily bested winless Larisa BEREZENKO of the Ukraine (0-5-0 9ko) as the fans took the first opportunity of the evening to stretch and leave the arena proper for their food and beverage break.

Spotlight Boxing of Hamburg, Germany promoted the event, which was shown live on Eurosport Live! as well as being streamed live on the Internet at www.boxing.de .

SHORT JABS

The German promotor and Czech sponsors pulled out all the stops to make this inaugural night of boxing a well-deserved success for Prague's showcase sports venue, the beautiful Sazka Arena. But the evening did have a few bumps and hiccups along the way. For example, in the very first bout of the evening the obvious loser from the Czech Republic was announced as the winner by unanimous decision, only to have his joy and excitement deflated by a much chagrined announcer who within seconds of realizing his mistake quieted the partisan fans with the correct verdict. Winner Norman Schuster was dumbfounded by the initial proclamation, and had a noticeable look of relief when he was finally announced the winner!

Questions of nationalism arose regarding the playing, or more properly NOT playing, a certain fighter's home country's national anthem. Or, as in another bout, the omission of the boxer's appropriate country flag with the substitution of one from a neighboring nation. The explanation given a half hour later to a still befuddled crowd rang hollow in it's purported logic.

There were not the usual amenities at ringside for the working press, including professional photographers. Hopefully, officials will review notes and make the necessary adjustments to insure that the credentialed sports reporters have a proper press area set aside, with tables near ringside, rather than just simply the last row of seats in the ring area. However, these observations aside, it must be noted that officials were most gracious and accommodating to the ad hoc requests from the media.

Also non-professional photographers, using their flash attachments...a definite no-no...had penetrated the ringside photographer positions, preventing proper, professional photographers from being able to work. Fairly soon after this was brought to the attention to officials, security was told to remove the non-professionals, and for the most part, the area was cleared, although some persistent offenders still managed to crash the area. Again, hopefully officials will tighten security in this regard in any future boxing events at Sazka.

Finally the ring apron extended much too far beyond the ring ropes than is usually the case. Thus the ability of the professional photographers to maximize their results in the highly demanding world of fast action, ringside boxing sportsphotography, was somewhat compromised. Once again, it is hoped these constructive comments will be noted by the responsible venue and promotor officials, so that corrective measures may be taken the next time around.

Having said all of the above, it was indeed a very successful evening of boxing entertainment for Prague, and kudos should be extended to everyone involved for an overall job very well done.

Ciao from Prague!

Larry Goodsite

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