By Chris Williamson

Forty seven year old former WBA cruiserweight champ Firat Arslan (now 41-8-2) knocked out Argentinian Alejandro Emilio Valori (now 24-13) with a brutal left hook in round seven to leave the visitor crumpled on the canvas here in Stuttgart.

British fans may remember Valori from a fourth round defeat to recently retired Nathan Cleverly.

Arslan's regional WBO title was not on the line.

Stefan Haertel, the German super middleweight acting as a reserve for the WBSS tournament, kept busy and remained unbeaten (now 15-0) with a smart boxing display to register a majority decision victory against gritty Ukrainian Viktor Polyakov (13-2-1) over ten rounds. There was a tense atmosphere during this match following a brawl in the crowd which involved at least 30 people and spilled near ringside. 

Switch-hitting super middleweight Leon Bauer (now 12-0-1) registered a disappointing draw with Atin Karabet (3-1-1) over six tepid rounds. The shorter Karabet landed regularly with the straight right and previously unbeaten Bauer's career doesn't appear anywhere near as promising as it once did. It was a scrappy bout, with the crowd booing their countrymen as early as the third. A late rally from Karabet in the last thirty seconds proved the best action of the fight and might have snatched the draw.

Popular Stuttgart man Timo Schwarzkopf (18-1) beat heavily tattooed Italian Massimilano Ballisai (20-5) in a competitive match at super middleweight. Schwarzkopf was patient and composed as he looked for openings.

The Italian opened up with regular little bursts to the body and chopping right hooks to the head, but Schwarzkopf carried the power here and his digs to the body drew gasps from supporters. As is custom with the WBSS, no scores for the unanimous decision victory were announced.

British super middleweight prospect Zach Parker (now 14-0) endured an uncomfortably tough eight rounds against Germany-based Belgian Matingu Kindele (9-7) as he debuted under the Sauerland promotional banner. Kindele cracked Parker with a couple of crunching left hooks in the opener before the much taller switch-hitter regained his composure, a solid jab providing his foundation for most of his good work.

Kindele has mixed in decent class, including a decision loss to current WBA "regular" super-middleweight champion Tyrone Zeuge in his fourth contest and isn't an easy night for anyone. Parker picked up a nasty cut over the right eye in the fourth and one hopes his sloppy decision win can be put down to being a last minute addition to the card.