Arthur Abraham (46-5, 30 KOs) won a unanimous decision as expected in Germany this afternoon over Robin Krasniqi (46-5, 17 KOs) by scores of 118-110, 115-114 and 117-111. Abraham has won on this level many times before, but this was more important than most as it was a WBO title eliminator. The win puts him back in line for a rematch with Top Rank promoted WBO middleweight titlist Gilberto Ramirez should he successfully defend later tonight.
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The fight started in typical Abraham fashion behind his high guard without much activity. The first four rounds conceivably could have been given to the more active Serb and these rounds account for the relatively close scores at the end of the fight. Abraham began to hurt Krasniqi in the fifth, however, and from there on he largely controlled the night with his pressure and always dangerous power punching. Krasniqi was hurt again in the ninth and tenth and the referee seemed to be considering stopping the fight, but ultimately he made it to the final bell.
The German star moves forward to a potential rematch with Gilberto Ramirez who largely dominated him in their title fight just over one year ago. Ramirez’s activity and movement nullified Abraham’s power and the fight was not close on the cards. In fact, Abraham did not win a round on any card. The much younger Mexican represented a stylistic disaster for Abraham then and it is difficult imagining that changing in a rematch.
In the co-feature 22 year old German heavyweight prospect Tom Schwarz (19-0, 12 KOs) picked up an easy second round KO over Bosnian Adnan Redzovic (18-2, 6 KOs).
