Havelstadt-Brandenburg
TUESDAY 8 AUGUST 2006
SCHMELING DEMOLISHES HIDE
IN STUTTGART
Story by Philipp Westermann
Promising young Brandenburg-born heavyweight Max Schmeling booked himself a place in the semi-finals of the International Boxing League's Inter-Continental Championship tournament with a ridiculously one-sided defeat of the Nigerian-born Englishman Herbie Hide last night. After pummeling the brave but outclassed Hide without mercy through the first seven rounds Schmeling finally finished him off in the 8th, following up knockdowns in the 6th and 7th with two more. Hide was counted out at the 1:54 mark. Going into the final round Schmeling led by ten points on two cards and nine on the other, the extent of his domination showing on Hide's swollen face. Schmeling (14-0(10)) appeared almost embarrassed in the aftermath. He'd asked the referee Arnold Pokrandt to stop the fight in each round starting in the 5th but inexplicably Pokrandt allowed Hide (12-2-1(8)) to keep on fighting.
For some time now the 23 year-old Schmeling has been regarded as Germany's biggest chance for future world championship success and he's followed up his bronze medal in Athens with a near faultless start in the professional ranks. Before last night he was already the favourite to win the Inter-Continental belt and his victory over Hide will only solidify that status. He'll be up against the undefeated New Zealander Sione Tialata in the semi-finals and most experts would be tipping him to win that contest quite easily. Tialata overcame the Samoan Semo Salanoa by unanimous decision. After a dominant opening, which included flooring Salanoa in the 2nd, Tialata had to endure a spirited comeback from the 15th seed before getting through by the skin of his teeth, each judge giving him a 75-74 verdict.
Tialata's fellow kiwi Neemia Sivivatu will contest the other semi-final after he knocked out the Filipino Juan de la Cruz in round five. It was another eye-opening effort from Sivivatu, who had dropped the American-born German Scott Mundt four times on the way to a unanimous decision win in his opening tournament bout. He sent the fiery de la Cruz to the canvas three times in the 5th before he was counted out at the 2:22 mark. Sivivatu takes on Italy's Francesco Damiani. The 13th seed achieved his second upset win of the tournament with a convincing unanimous decision victory over the South African Pierre Coetzer. Damiani floored Coetzer in the 5th with a body shot and in the 7th with a big uppercut and took the verdict by scores of 80-72 on all three cards.
There were some interesting world ranking bouts earlier in the evening, with Nigeria's former tournament top seed Omovo Okocha suffering his second consecutive career defeat. Bombarded by de la Cruz last month, Okocha was knocked out cold by a single Scott Mundt uppercut two minutes into round three of what had been to that point an uneventful bout. German boxing fans are hoping that Mundt can join Schmeling in being a success on the international stage and his one-punch obliteration of Okocha was a great way for him to get back on the winner's list after the disappointment of being eliminated from the tournament by Sivivatu. Mundt is now 11-1(9). Okocha's compatriot Samuel Peter was more fortunate as he knocked out the New Zealander Tom Heeney in the 6th and final round of their clash.