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Germany-based Dominican Rafael
Bejaran is the new World Boxing
Federation (WBF) World Super
Welterweight Champion after
winning the vacant title on
Sunday night, April 2, at the
Grosse Freiheit 36 in his
adopted home-town Hamburg.
Bejaran was declared the winner
over South African co-challenger
Nkululeko Mhlongo by split
Technical Decision, when a cut
over the left eye suffered in
the second round, as a result of
an accidental head-but, worsened
and the ringside doctor
recommended the fight be stopped
after round six.
Judges Torben Seemann Hansen
from Denmark and Germany’s Jens
Uwe Baum had Bejaran ahead by
scores of 58-56 and 60-54, while
judge Christian Roesen, also
from Germany, had Mhlongo
leading by 58-56. The third man
in the ring was Zbigniew Lagosz.
Before that, it had been a
fascinating encounter. Bejaran
was the busier of the two and
landed more shots, but reigning
South African and WBF
Intercontinental titlist Mhlongo
landed the harder punches. The
momentum of the fight shifted
back and forth, until the
decision was made to go to the
scorecards.
The new WBF World Champion, who
improved his record to 24-2-1
(10), was ecstatic with the
victory, and naturally Mhlongo,
now 16-4 (11), was equally
disappointed with the outcome.
As close and competitive as it
was, and the way the result came
about, a rematch should
certainly be a very realistic
option.
The Bejaran vs. Mhlongo WBF
World Super Welterweight title
fight was the main event of a
show promoted by Thomas Nissen
and his Boxen Im Norden.
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