Spanish featherweight Cristobal Lorente (19-0-1) won the European title with a hard-fought points win over defending champion Mauro Forte (20-1-2) in the headliner of OPI since 82’s show in the Albanian capital. The judges had it 115-112, 114-113 and 114-114.
Forte suffered a bad cut in the second round that caused him problems throughout the fight, but he came back well to floor Lorente in the sixth round. However, the challenger got up and a strong finish sealed the win after a very tough fight.
In the chief support, local Nelson Hysa (18-0) won the vacant WBO European bauble with a one round knockout over German Thorsten Fuchs (13-2) in what was described as a mismatch by ringsiders.
Light heavyweight Alban Bermeta (17-0-1) also scored an easy win when Nigerian Obinna Joseph Mathew (23-1) retired after the first round.
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Swiss super featherweight Angelo Pena (9-0) square off against Hiroki Hanabusa (13-2-5) September 10 in Bern in a 10-rounder.
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With a record of 6-29-2 you’d be forgiven for presuming Czech super welterweight Ester Konecna can’t fight much but she is a journeywoman deluxe (one of very few, it must be said) who has fought them all, always on the road. The only one to stop her was Savannah Marshall (there is another loss by stoppage on Ester’s record but was due to injury). Many times Konecna has lost close decisions, plenty in which it could be reasonably argued she deserved better. By her own estimate her record should be around 50/50 and that is something one can only agree with
Konecna began with boxing at the age of 11 and turned pro after completing her PhD in utilization of clay minerals and their modification for adsorption and desorption (no, this reporter did not ask for further details on this). She turned pro to make some money. She operates her own gym and is busy as a personal trainer.
Ester always enters the ring with a big smile and leaves the ring smiling regardless of the result.
“I do what I like and I got used to getting a negative outcome from a fight,” she said. “But I always know in my heart whether I have won the fight and performed well, or not… so why not smile? I love boxing and I love entertaining people who come to see us boxing. So, I just want to put on a show.”
Konecna, who is tall, moves well, and can fight both orthodox and as a southpaw. In 2024 she is 3-3 with her last bout being against former world champ Mikaela Lauren.
As for the next fight, Ester Konecna is ready to go but action is slow during the summertime.