May 22, Rostock, Germany:
Former WBA heavyweight champ Ruslan Chagaev is closing in on another shot at his his old title with a unanimous decision over Kali Meehan in a final eliminator. Chagaev won on scores of 116-112, 118-110 and 117-111 after twelve. It was obvious from the first round that Chagaev had the speed, style and skills to do a number on Meehan but Ruslan could never hurt his opponent or follow up on his good southpaw lefts. Meehan on the other hand waited for too long and allowed Chagaev to control the action. He opened up only under pressure but when he did he showed both speed and power and a good right in the seventh and a wild body attack in the last seemed to get to Ruslan but it wasn´t enough.
Former WBO heavy champ Siarhei Liakhovich knocked out unknown Nicaraguan Evans Quinn in the ninth of a scheduled ten rounder but finished with a busted nose and a badly swollen left eye.Cornerman Tommy Brooks kept shouting to Liakhovich in the early rounds that all he had to to was to find the finisher and they could all go home but Quinn fought back hard. After five Brooks began to tell his fighter he had to win by knockout to win at all and finally – in the ninth – Liakhovich took out his brave but inexperienced opponent with a short counter right.
Aleksyi Kuziemsky knew too much for Igor Michalkin and won the vacant Int´ l German title at lightheavy on scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-94 after ten.
WBCjr light champ Vitali Tajbert retained the title on a technical decision over Hector Velazquez, who tested Tajbert but lacked the speed to get the champion under pressure. An accidental clash of heads in the second left Tajbert badly cut and as the cut got worse it had to be stopped in the ninth with Tajbert ahead on scores of 88-83, 87-83 and 88-82.
Jr middle “Golden” Jack Culcay floored Isak Tavares three times in the first for a stoppage at 2.23.
Fly Pal Bedak impressed in stopped Pedro Cardenas in three.
Heavyweight Markus Tomala outscored Sebastian Koeber over six in a battle of stablemates. Tomala had too much variety for the stiff but hard punching Koeber.