Germany, Philippines and Uganda set the scene for World Boxing Federation (WBF) championship bouts on Saturday, April 30, as thousands of boxing fans witnessed the crowning of two new Intercontinental champions and two new International titlist. In Germany, at the Tangerhuette Kulturhaus, Samir Nebo stopped Andrei Mazanik from Belorussia to win the vacant WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight title. Nebo seemed to be cruising along steadily, winning the first four rounds comfortably, when the visitor tripped and hurt his ankle.
Mazanik did get back on his feet, but when Nebo took advantage of the situation by opening up with combinations, the trainer of Mazanik pulled his man out and Nebo was declared the winner by fifth round technical knockout (time 2:41) and improved his record to 8-1-1 (8). Mazanik drops to 12-7 (9).
In the evenings co-feature, Kazakhstan-born Sadam Sasha Kerimov (22) prolonged his perfect knockout-streak to fifteen by winning the vacant WBF International Light Heavyweight title with a first-round blow-out of previously undefeated Timur Zaslavskiy.
The towel was thrown in by the corner of Zaslavskiy, at 1:02, much to the dismay of the spectators, after Kerimov, now 15-0 (15), landed a series of sickening body-shots on his cornered opponent, who slowly sank to the canvas and suffered his first defeat in seven outings and drops to 6-1 (5).
Billed as “Brawl At The Mall: Undefeated!”, Sanman Promotions staged a free to the public ten-bout show at the Makati Cinema Boxing Arena in Makati City, Philippines, headlined by a fight for the vacant WBF International Bantamweight title.
After ten competitive rounds of boxing, 19-year-old “Magic” Mike Plania captured his first title when he was declared the winner by majority decision over compatriot Lorence Rosas, and improved his professional record to 10-0 (4). Southpaw Rosas (21) falls to 5-1-2 (2).
Judges Nowel Haduca and Gil Co scored the fight 95-93 and 96-92 in favor of Plaina, while judge Jerrold Tomeldan had it all even at 94-94. Referee in charge of the action was Silvestre Abainza, who deducted a point from each boxer for intentional head-buts.
At the Sheraton Kampala Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, David Basajjamivule was too strong and powerful for Tanzanian Mbaruku Kheri, who was dominated and retired before the fourth round with a suspected cracked rip, making the local hero the new WBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight champion.
Lifting the vacant title in front of happy fans cheering him on and eventually celebrating him at ringside, the new champion improved his impressive professional ledger to 16-3-1 (11), and sends a disappointed Kheri home with a 16-9 (14) record.