WBO (World Boxing Organization) super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham bested Paul Smith on Saturday night, according to a unanimous decision by the judges in the northern German town of Kiel. The judges all scored the 12-round fight in Abraham’s favor, two of them by 117 points to 111, and another 119-109, Deutsche Welle reports.
“That was no easy opponent,” Abraham said after the fight in front of some 6,000 spectators. “I had to hit hard.”
The 34-year-old’s punches appeared more effective and powerful throughout the night, not least in a commanding final round, part of which Smith spent up against the ropes.
The Armenian-born German took his career record to 41 wins (28 by knockout) and four defeats, defending his title successfully for the second time. Abraham had taken an enforced break after his first title defense in April, when he beat Montenegro’s Nikola Sjkeloca in Berlin despite breaking his right hand.
Defeated challenger Smith was taking part in his first ever title fight; the result moves his career record to 35-4 with 20 knockouts.
