Hernandez stops Alekseev, Leapai stuns Boytsov for Klitschko chance

It was a mixed night of fortunes in Bamberg for Sauerland fighters on Saturday with IBF cruiswerweight belt holder Yoan Pablo Hernandez outclassing tough Russian challenger Alexander Alekseev, who was knocked down in rounds two, five and then finally in the tenth when the referee was forced to wave off the bout and leave Hernandez to celebrate his third world title defence and his move back to the top of the BoxRec 200lb rankings.

The upset of the night was caused by Samoan-born Australian heavyweight Alex Leapai who was given the nod by all three judges after ten rounds of his WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight title scrap with Denis Boytsov. The Russian started well but appeared to lack fitness and a solid strategy. The match was filled with clinches which frustrated Leapai but having emerged the victor, will now prepare to face champion Wladimir Klitschko sometime in the new year.

In another world title eliminator, Eduard Gutknecht was unlucky to have his left eye closed shut by Dimitry Sukhotsky and was forced to retire after five rounds. It was a nasty looking swelling that was already visable in round four. Gutknecht was given clearance by the ringside doctor at the beginning of round five to continue boxing but it was clear he was struggling and was taken out of the fight some three minutes later. Sukhotsky will now aim for a world title shot against 48-year old Bernard Hopkins for his IBF light-heavyweight strap.

Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin moved to 4-0 with a positive verdict over four rounds against Tomas Mrazek while fellow Swede, light welterweight Anthony Yigit looked impressive against the much taller Michal Vosyka. Yigit took a couple of rounds to find his range but moved his feet and head expertly to avoid being tagged by the Czech. In round six the referee put an end to the contest with Yigit clearly ahead and with little coming back in return from Vosyka.

"He was the first one [Opponent] that was a bit taller [than me]. I had a good game plan for him, to get him with my left hook to the chin. I got him with it in the second round, I wanted to keep that up but it's all about getting experience" Yigit told BoxRec News after the fight.

Cruiserweight prospect Noel Gevor laboured to a points win over Georgian journeyman Sandro Siproshvili while Nuremberg's super middleweight talent Wanik Awdijan stopped his opponent in the first round. In fact he floored Janos Olah, a late replacement for Stephane Cuevas, with his very first punch. The contest was stopped at precisely one minute with Olah clearly no competitive match for local lad Awdijan. At the press conference promoter Kalle Sauerland spoke to BoxRec News' Tony Mayger to give his thoughts on the fighters that had been action and also to update us on David Price, Mikkel Kessler, Robert Helenius and Edmund Gerber.

Read the original article on news.boxrec.com