Dubai: American Eduardo Martinez was the only one winning on a knockout on the opening day of the Arab World Boxing Championship being held at the Dubai Tennis Stadium, on Saturday.
Martinez showed much better prowess as he outlasted and then knocked out Ilman Arskahanov of Russia in the seventh round in the 75kg category to emerge the lone boxer to win on a knock-out in the two-day championship.
Watched by former world heavyweight champion Danny Williams, it was the American champion who showed his superiority and then when the opportunity arose, Martinez floored his opponent with a left jab to secure the win. Danny Williams later handed over the special belt to the American champion.
The other three fights were decided on points with Arjan Vatniksj of Albania securing a win against Rosario Presti of Italy in the 71kg category, Loiay Nader of Iraq also did enough to tire out Frenchman Jean Claude Delar in the 86kg and Dinitri Bosson of France was adjudged winner on points against Portugal's Jose Da Fonseca in the 66kg.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Darmaki was the lone UAE fighter standing in the three-card amateur support contest when he was declared winner on points against Dahbi Molay Hassan of Mauritania in the 66kg category.
The other UAE boxer, Ahmad Al Hosani, was unlucky as he went down on points against Mohammad Bikai of Palestine in the 64kg category, while Syria's Rateb Hatahet also won on points against Mohammad Fayed of Egypt in the 87kg category. rganised by the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), in coordination with international boxing body FIBA and Golden Star Media, the two-day boxing event is a combination of sports and entertainment held under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Results
Amateurs
64kg: Mohammad Bikai (Palestine) bt Ahmad Al Hosani (UAE) on points; 66kg: Ahmad Darmaki (UAE) bt Dahbi Molay Hassan (Mauritania); 87kg: Rateb Hatahet (Syria) bt Mohammad Fayed (Egypt).
Professionals
71kg: Arjan Vatniksj (Albania) bt Rosario Presti (Italy) on points; 75kg: Eduardo Martinez (USA) bt Ilman Arskahanov (Russia) by KO (7th round); 86kg: Loiay Nader (Iraq) bt Jean Claude Delar (France) on pts; 66kg: Dinitri Bosson (France) bt Jose Da Fonseca (Portugal) on points.
