SportingNews.com
Aug 18 2007
Abraham’s fifth IBF middleweight defense ends with a knockout of
Gevor in 11th round
Posted: August 18, 2007
BERLIN — Unbeaten Arthur Abraham knocked out Khoren Gevor in the
11th round to retain his IBF middleweight title on Saturday.
Abraham (24-0, 19 KOs) punished his fellow Armenian-born German with
shot after shot during the final four rounds.
In the 11th, Abraham’s short uppercut spun Gevor’s head around
sharply and lifted him in the air. Gevor sagged onto his knees then
toppled onto his back, going down for the first time in his career.
"He’s a warrior, he showed that," Abraham said. "But anybody that
wants my title has to be punished."
Gevor, the fifth-ranked challenger, gave Abraham trouble early. He
pressed from the opening seconds and threw blows nonstop.
The fight turned when Abraham caught him flush with a right in the
seventh. In the next round, Abraham hit Gevor several times with
flurries — a dozen shots on one occasion.
"I thought of throwing in the towel, but he wanted to show people,"
trainer Fritz Smudek said of Gevor. "He made one big mistake. After
that big shot, he tried to slug it out."
Gevor (27-3, 15 KOs) only other losses was the result of cuts.
Abraham will fight in the United States next year, according to his
management.
He is a popular boxer in Germany with a knack for exciting fights,
including a successful defense last year against Edison Miranda after
his jaw was broken twice early in the bout.