Saturday night at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, WBA World light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (48-2, 35 KOs), the southpaw from Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, retained his title by 12-round unanimous decision over former WBA Inter-Continental light heavyweight champion Eduard Gutknecht (29-4-1, 12 KOs), from Gifhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany, by way of Dzhetysai, Kazakhstan.
The final scores were 118-110 and 116-111 twice.
It was the second meeting between the two men. Their first fight was in 2013 at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin, Germany, for the EBU light heavyweight title. Braehmer won that bout by unanimous decision and since has reeled off eight straight victories, four of which ended early.
Gutknecht has been less active and less successful during the same time period, having gone 5-1-1 against weaker opposition.
It would appear that Gutknecht had not done enough in the intervening years to have earned another title shot. But after South Africa’s Thomas Oosthuizen twice bailed out on Braehmer, Gutknecht was as a suitable challenger as any for the champ to fight on short notice.
Braehmer won the first half of the fight with little difficulty. Relying on his southpaw jab he fought at a distance controlled the action. But Gutknecht got in some shots of his own, especially in round three. Few of them appeared to seriously affect the champ.
Gutknecht did some good work in the middle rounds, but Braehmer came roaring back. An accidental clash of heads in round eight drew first blood from above Braehmer’s left eye.
Despite the cut, Braehmer fought smart using his jab and experience. Gutknecht was starting to fade and deducted a point by referee Roberto Ramirez Jr., after several repeated warnings, for holding and hitting.
Gutknecht’s frustration was showing.
With the fight in the bag going into the championship rounds, Braehmer coasted to an easy decision.
“It was fine for the first six rounds,” said Braehmer after the bout. “I was clearly in control. But then from the sixth or seventh I felt a pain in my left hand and you know how it is, you don’t want to take any risks.”
“Perhaps I was over-motivated for the first four rounds,” said Gutknecht. “I went in too eagerly and paid the price. Juergen is a clever boxer, and he used it to his advantage. There was too much for me to make up. I’m sorry I couldn’t manage it, but I gave it my all.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
