Promoter Knows ‘Big Fighter’ Is Needed To Rejuvenate German Boxing

Wasserman Boxing hosted an EBU super welterweight title fight between Germany’s Abass Baraou and England’s Sam Eggington on Friday night in Telford.

The Wasserman-promoted Baraou scored a majority-decision win over the 42-fight veteran 30 miles from his opponent’s hometown of Birmingham. 

The 29-year-old Berliner produced a dominant display over 12 rounds to secure the European title despite one judge scoring the bout a draw. 

“It was a bit of a coming out party for Abass,” Baraou’s promoter Nisse Sauerland told boxingscene.com. “We had a couple of million views. It was his acid test, if you like. I thought he boxed brilliantly in a very tough fight. Eggington is a warrior, and will come again. There was one dodgy scorecard; it was bizarre.

“We’ve had Abass since his pro debut. Winning this title makes it all the more special to do with a nice young man. He’s lived up to his potential. In Germany the EBU title means a lot; I think in England it’s meaning a lot more now. It used to be quite weird – they would chuck a few French and Spanish guys in there for it. 

“Baraou-Eggington was great for it, it’s Germany against England. Last time I was in Telford was for Markus Beyer and Richie Woodhall – crazy night. I got headbutted in the crowd; I think I was only 17 or so. We had a little row, it was fun.”

Friday night’s fight had an added layer through it also being made an eliminator for the WBA title at 154lbs. It was expected that Israil Madrimov and Magomed Kurbanov would contest the WBA title stripped from Jermell Charlo. However, it has also been reported that Madrimov failed a pre-medical for that fight in Saudi Arabia. 

“He does well against either guy, as long as it is not in Russia,” Sauerland added. “I thought Liam Smith won out there [in Russia against Kurbanov], but it’s a decent fight. We do still need a big fighter in Germany; we really need that big fighter to rejuvenate German boxing. This fight wouldn’t have happened here a few years ago, it would have happened in Germany. But we will turn it around.”

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