By Alexey Sukachev

It was rough, it was close, and it was very stressing at the end, but former two-time cruiserweight champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk utilized his diabolic "ninth life" to overcome previously undefeated contender Noel Gevor with a split nod in the main event of the show, co-promoted by KnockOut Promotions (Andrzej Wasilewski and Piotr Werner) and Babilon Promotions (Tomasz Babilonski).

The stakes were really high as the fight was both the IBF final eliminator and an elimination fight for a spot in the new World Boxing Series.

Both competitors started fast but Gevor was slightly more consistent in the first half of the fight, though Wlodarczyk was never been out of play. Gevor worked in defensive mode but was quite successful in doing so. However, the former IBF (2006-2007) and WBC (2010-2014) cruiserweight champion Wlodarczyk, 35, summoned the rest of his power to overturn the fight with his experience and some tiny things he has worked out throughout his lengthy career. And he was able to overcome Gevor in later rounds in order to get this fight.

WBO #1, IBF #3, WBA #5 and WBC #12 Gevor suffers his first career defeat to get down to 22-1, 10 KOs, while IBF #4, WBO and WBC #5 and IBF #12 Wlodarczyk is now 53-3-1, with 37 KOs.

Undercard:

Junior middleweight Patryk Szymanski (18-0, 9 KOs) overcame tough resistance of former European welterweight champion Rafal Jackiewicz but showed his limitations and still has plenty of work in the gym. Scores were: 95-92, 97-92, and 98-91 - all for the Pole. Szymasnki started fast and rocked his 40-year old opponent early in the fight, but the veteran boxer showed considerable strength and desire to win. He also badly hurt Szymanski in the fifth but failed to force him to the canvas due to a lack of time and punching power. Still Szymanski was hurt and dazed and barely made it to the end. Jackiewicz is now 48-17-2, 22 KOs.

Showing his best boxing, 23-year old welterweight Przemyslaw Runowski (15-0, 3 KOs) celebrated one of his biggest wins with the second-round stoppage of previously undefeated Swiss Alain Chervet (13-1-2, 10 KOs). The guest fighter started well but Runowski moved fast and used his left hand as a showstopper. Then in the second, the Pole started to land his right cross and never stopped doing it, dropping the Swiss fighter three times in one round to enforce a second-round TKO in his favour.

2008 Ukrainian Olympian Olexander Stretskiy continued his impressive roll as a pro with an easy stoppage of Belarussian Andrey Abramenko. Abramenko, down twice in the first, was stopped at 1:50 of the second round. Stretskiy improves to 4-0, 2 KOs, while Abramenko suffers his fifth stoppage loss in a row. He is now 20-9-2, 4 KOs.

Other results:

Pawel Wierzbicki (1-0, 1 KO) TKO 2 Pawel Sowik (0-2)

Kamil Gardzielik (3-0, 1 KO) UD 4 Przemyslaw Gorgon (3-1, 1 KO). Scores: 38-37 (x3)

Przemyslaw Zysk (5-0, 2 KOs) TKO 2 Tomasz Goluch (4-7, 2 KOs)