By Per Ake Persson

Magdeburg, Germany - EBU heavyweight champ Agit Kabayel (19-0 or 22-2 depending on which fights you recognize or not) won a unanimous decision over Ukrainian Andriy Rudenko (32-4) to retain the title. It was scored 117-110, 116-111 and 119-108 for Kabayel.

Rudenko was down in the sixth and looked ready to go after taking a lot of bodyshots -but somehow he pulled himself together and fought back hard to not only last the round but also force Kabayel backwards.

The champion likes to box on the move and counterpunch and Rudenko started fast and tried to cut the ring off. It was fastpaced, especially for heavyweights, and it also became obvious that neither could hurt the other.  Kabayel went well to the body and Rudenko tired badly and as mentioned looked close to being stopped in the sixth but while he kept shaking his head after every round he would come out for the next trying his best but it just wasn´t good enough.

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Kabayel boxed on safety in the last two rounds while Rudenko by now had found his second wind and came on strong at the end.

This was a voluntary defence by the champion and next up should be the mandatory challenger; Otto Wallin from Sweden.

WBO I/C heavyweight champion Tom Schwarz moved to 24-0 with 16 early endings as he took out Germany-based Croatian Kristijan Krstacic (17-2) in the evening´s  co-headliner. Schwarz was too big and strong for Krstacic and quickly found a home for a heavy right hook.

Schwarz got Krstacic to the ropes in the second and that was the beginning of the end. The Croatian was floored by a right hook and while he got up but was nothing but trouble waiting for him as Schwarz again floored him a right hook. Krstacic got up  but Schwarz floored him for a third time almost right away. The referee counted him out and it was over at 2.50.

WBO I/C heavyweight champion Tom Schwarz moved to 24-0 with 16 early endings as he took out Germany-based Croatian Kristijan Krstacic (17-2) in the evening´s  co-headliner. Schwarz was too big and strong for Krstacic and quickly found a home for a heavy right hook.

Schwarz got Krstacic to the ropes in the second and that was the beginning of the end. The Croatian was floored by a right hook and while he got up but was nothing but trouble waiting for him as Schwarz again floored him a right hook. Krstacic got up  but Schwarz floored him for a third time almost right away. The referee counted him out and it was over at 2.50.

Local man, light heavy Adam Deines, 17-0-1, took out Hungarian Zoltan Sera at 2.00 of the third. Sera was down in the both the first and second as well and wasn´t much of an opponent.

Deines is trained by Dirk Dzemski and also had Robert Stieglitz in the corner. Both ex champs looked fit and ready to go again.

 At ringside is former EBU heavyweight champ and Muhammad Ali opponent Juergen Blin.

Moroccan star Mohammed Rabii moved 9-0 with a unanimous decision over former EBU welter champ Rafal Jackiewicz, 50-22-1, in a one-sided but interesting eight-rounder. Rabii outboxed Jackiewicz but could never get him in trouble. The Pole is not what he once was but is still a highly capable opponent and gave Rabii a solid learning fight. All cards read 80-72 at the end.

During a break in the action EBU light heavy champ Dominik Boesel received an award from trade paper BoxSport after being voted Fighter of the Year and Ulli Wegner was named Trainer of the Year.

Heavyweight Erik Pfeifer (4-0) knocked out Italian Angelo Rizzo (5-1-1) 2.23 into the first round of scheduled six-rounder. Rizzo was doing all right until hurt by a left to the body and sank down in pain. He was up at "9" and allowed to continue but Pfeifer finished him with another left to the body.

Pfeifer was a big star in the amateurs but may have been too late in turning pro but have the skills to go a long way. He is promoted by EC Boxing.

Heavyweight hopeful Danilo Milacic (6-0) opened SES´ big heavyweight show at the Maritim Hotel in Magdeburg. Milacic, a southpaw, looked a bit slow but showed good power as he floored Bulgarian Zheko Zhekov (3-5-1) twice in the first and twice in the second for a stoppage win 1.06 into the second round. It was scheduled for four.

Ukrainian Alex Mazikin (14-14-2) kind of beat himself when lost to Hussein Mohamed (10-0) in a scheduled eight rounder. Mazikin, once a top class amateur and in the pros with Spotlight Boxing in his early days is just never in shape. He seemed to get the better of the exchanges against Mohammed in the first round but went down after a right to the body. In the second Alex visibly tired but took his opponent to school with his skilful boxing.

Mazikin scored with a good right early in the third but then went down again after another right downstairs. He got through the round but was by now exhausted and in the fourth he sank down on his knees after a left jab to the body. Mohammed was too eager and punched Mazikin who was down on one knee. Alex got up and punched back but was dead tired and was retired by his corner.