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There is a new World Boxing
Federation (WBF) World
Cruiserweight Champion after
local star Taylor Mabika
dethroned defending champion
Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf from
Algeria on Saturday night at the
Stade de l´Amitié in Libreville,
Gabon.
The hungry challenger and the
determined champion both showed
incredible courage and
will-power in what turned out to
be a wild war, with both men
having their moments and at
times appearing on the verge of
gaining or losing real momentum.
The fight reached the final bell
with a lively crowd on their
feet in appreciation of both
boxers, and after a very close
encounter the local man, based
in Luxembourg and only fighting
in his birth-country for the
fifth time, was crowned as new
world champion by way of split
decision.
With several rounds close enough
to go either way, judges
Bertrand Chagnoux and Toni
Tiberi scored the fight 116-113
and 117-112 respectively for
Mabika, now 16-2-1 (9), while
judge Darryl Ribbink saw it as
116-114 for Benmakhlouf, who
drops to 22-5-1 (12). Referee
was Vincent Dupas.
Also on Saturday night, WBF
Intercontinental Heavyweight
Champion Samir Nebo retained his
title for the first time in
Torgau, Germany when Davit
Gorgiladze from Georgia retired
on his stool after round four,
making the German power-puncher
the winner by fifth round
technical knockout.
35-year-old Nebo improved his
professional ledger to 9-1-1
(9), and Gorgiladze, challenging
for his first championship,
falls to 11-3 (9).
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