King Artur smashes German champion

Artur Tomasevic came home from Dublin with a gold medal after thrashing the German champion in the final of the prestigious Monkstown Box Cup.
Artur Tomasevic with coaches Mark Dane and Vicki Baker.Artur Tomasevic with coaches Mark Dane and Vicki Baker.
Artur Tomasevic with coaches Mark Dane and Vicki Baker.

The 17 year-old from Peterborough Police ABC was left disappointed after Tommy Fury, younger brother of world champion Tyson, pulled out of their bout.

He instead met Eric Strelow - and unanimously outpointed him over three rounds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Strelow was the German champion and with 50 bouts behind him, was way more experienced than Tomasevic.

The final was just his 10th bout, but he dominated.

“It was a gamble,” admitted coach Chris Baker. “Strelow was the German champion and Artur had to lift himself after hearing Fury had pulled out.

“That was a big fight for Artur and it was a shame Fury pulled out.

“We weren’t given a reason why he pulled out - maybe he didn’t want to risk losing in front of his home crowd - but it was tough on Artur.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“He was really up for that fight, but he stayed motivated and really took it to the German.

“He closed the gap quickly and didn’t give him any breathing space from first bell to last.”

Tomasevic handed Strelow a broken nose on the way to the best win of his ring career.

He had won silver at the Haringey Box Cup a couple of weeks earlier after a points loss to Lewis Williams (Cleary’s) in the final and Baker added: “He’s learned from that. Artur knows what it takes now.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I’m pleased he ended the season with a good win and he’s going to stay in the gym and get ready for the Youth Novice championships that start at the end of September.”

Baker also says he plans to enter light-middleweight Danny Meins and light-heavyweight Richie Ellison in the senior Novice championships in Class A, for boxers with fewer than 10 bouts.