Mortensen stops Norek, wins EBU Silver title

Per-Ake Persson

Melissa Mortensen (8-0) won the vacant EBU Silver title in style as she stopped Pole Dorota Norek (9-6) at the end of the fourth round in the headliner of Primetime Promotions show at the Sporticum.

The fight was off to a messy start with more wrestling and holding than boxing but in the third Mortensen, cut by the left eye in the second, found her range and Norek took a beating. Late in the fourth Melissa landed with a short right hand and Norek went down and almost out. She got up but staggered to her corner on unsteady legs and was retired by her coach.

Tough Czech heavyweight Adam Kolarik (10-9) upset Dane Thorbjorn Boudigaard (8-3) with a unanimous decision over six hard fought rounds. It was scored 58-56 from the officials in a messy fight where Boudigaard forced the action but walked into heavy counters and was cut by the left eye in the fourth.

Super feather Ahmad “The Teacher” Al Ahmad moved to 11-0 with a unanimous – 60:54 x 3 – decision over Nicaraguan, based in Spain, Wilbert Pantin (7-6). Al Ahmad, a good boxer, outboxed his opponent most of the way but again his lack of punching power showed and he had to settle for a points win.

Lightweight Elias Faour (6-0), who fights a bit like Prince Naseem was stunned by a right hand early in the first round against Ukrainian Ivan Martinyuk (3-4) and suffered a busted nose but came back to win the remaining three rounds in style. It was scored 39-37 twice and 40-36.

Super lightweight Mahir Katib (4-0) won every round against durable Polish journeyman Marian Wieslowski (5-21-1) but could never hurt his opponent. Katib impressed with his steady pressure and workrate and won on scores 60-54 from the two judges and the scoring referee

Swedish super lightweight Marcus Lofberg turned pro and did it well, stopping Polish veteran Marcin Ficner (3-48-4) 1.35 into the first round. Ficner was hurt by a right hand and never recovered and it was stopped after three knockdowns.