World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Light Heavyweight champion Shefat Isufi retained his title for the second time on Saturday night, February 25, at the Audi Dome in Munich, Germany.
Isufi, who won the title in April of last year, scored a hard-fought split decision over Argentinean challenger Hernan David Perez, a former South American and WBA regional titlist.
Judges Ilhan Homovic and Gunter Ecker scored the fight 114-113 and 117-111 for the champion, while judge Alexander Plumans saw it 115-113 in favour of Perez.
Serbian-born, Munich-based Isufi (33) improved his professional record to 37-4-2 (24). 33-year-old “El Picante” Perez, fighting out of Buenos Aires, falls to 9-8 (3).
Robin Krasniqi Celebrates a Spectacular Comeback
The highlight of the evening was still to come for the numerous boxing fans in attendance. The return of former world champion Robin Krasniqi, who wanted to recommend himself for a world championship fight against Timur Nikarkhoev. The strategy he had worked out with his new trainer and former opponent Jürgen Brähmer was to keep the opponent at a distance and become dangerous with combinations. After a cautious first round, Krasniqi set the first accents, shook Nikarkhoev with a strong left and then sunk in the right. But the Russian was not easily impressed and countered with quick combinations.
Increasingly, Krasniqi showed his experience, went consistently forward and tried again and again to hit his opponent with his strong right. At the end of the fifth round, Krasniqi placed several combinations in a row in the face of Nikarkhoev, who was quite rattled, but still managed to make it to the break.
There the ring doctor came and the Russian gave up due to injury – victory for Krasniqi by TKO. The Arena was roaring. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you all,” Krasniqi thanked his fans. “It’s incredible to come back after a year and a half,” Krasniqi rejoiced and also dedicated the victory to his family and his son born last year.