IBA super welterweight champion David Papot (26-0-1) retained the title with a hard fought split decision over fellow-Frenchman Ahmed El Mousaoui (34-4-1) in front of 6000 spectators.at The Zenith in Nantes, France. It was scored 116-113 and 117-114 for Papot and 115-113 El Mousaoui.
There was a big upset on the undercard as bantamweight Loic Tahan (9-1) knocked out Elie Konke (12-1). Tahan slipped under a lazy right from Konke and came up with a left hook-right hand combination that left his opponent out of this world.
Konke had previously beaten Tahan in a fight for the French title and the oddsmaker had him as a firm favourite.
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Back in the day (we’re talking 15 years ago) Siarhei Huliakevich was known as Sergej Guliakevich and was EBU super featherweight champ and also fought for the WBC title.
Nowadays, Huliakevich is 41 years old, weighs in at middleweight and is an “opponent” on the European circuit. But he is a dangerous “opponent” and German Kasim Gashi (15-3) was the last one to find out that as he was knocked out in the seventh round in the headliner of a show in Aalen. Gashi, who also promoted the event, announced his retirement in the ring.
As for Huliakevich, now 45-18-2, he is off to another payday and living in Belarus he probably needs them.
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The EBU held its General Assembly in Riga, Latvia, this weekend and a new President was elected in Swiss Peter Stucki. He was the sole candidate after reigning President Bob Logist withdrew his candidacy.
A few decades ago, becoming European champion was as far as a European fighter could go but today’s promoters and fighters have so many more opportunities that many sidestep the EBU title,, which usually means a tough fight for less money than you can earn fighting for a world title.
Add to that internal disputes and many members with internal problems and Mr Stucki has his work cut out for him but the EBU title remains one of the most prestigious titles around with a long history dating back to 1948.