May 31, Copenhagen, Denmark:
Thorbjorn Boudigaard, 6-2 (5 KOs), won a split decision over Swede Genti Morina, 1-1 (1 KO) in the headliner of Bettina Palle’s show at the Dansborghalle.
Boudigaard, fighting for the first time at bridgerweight, won the fight the hard way: he earned it by fighting harder and putting pressure on his more skilful opponent, who landed the cleaner punches but allowed himself to be outworked. It was a tough fight all the way but the Dane kept coming and while he walked into some hard punches he stayed the course and finished stronger.
At the end of this six-rounder, it was scored 58-56 both ways and 59-55 to Boudigaard.
In the co-feature, Ukrainian Nicolai Poddubnyy, 3-0, took apart Bosnian Ramiz Hadziaganovic, 10-5 (8 KOs), and stopped him in the third. The Bosnian, based in Austria, took a beating all the way and finally caved in during the third when he went down. He got up and told his corner to throw in the towel, which they did and it was all over.
Nuremberg – GERMANY
Icelandic heavyweight Gunnar Kolbeinn Kristinsson, 18-0 (12 KOs) stopped German Mike Lehnis, 8-1 (5 KOs) tonight (May 31) in Nuremberg (Germany). Lehnis started well but as his bigger and heavier opponent put on pressure he faded, went down in the sixth and didn't come out for the seventh. After six Lehnis was still ahead on two cards by 57-56 and 58-55 while Kristinsson was ahead by 57-56 on the third scorecard.
With this win the 37-year old Kristinsson, known as the “Polar Bear”, won three titles: the interim World Boxing Federation, Legends Boxing Foundation and Global Boxing Union – all jokes many will say, but don’t forget that a big fish in a small lake can make a great living.
Kolbeinn, who fights with a Swedish license, has been a professional since 2014 and struggled a long time with fights far and in-between as Iceland still prohibits professional boxing.
