Blood seeped down her face. But Nina Meinke (31) beamed. “I can’t believe that this dream has come true.”
The boxer from the P2M stable won the vacant IBF featherweight crown (57.2 kilos) in a ring battle in Hamburg against the tough Argentinian Daniela Bermudez (35/Argentina). “This means everything to me. Everything I’ve worked towards my whole life has come true today. My emotions are overflowing. Crying, laughing, everything is coming at once.”
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For the first time in Europe, a women’s fight lasted twelve times three minutes (instead of 10×2) – just like the men’s fight. IBF President Daryl J. Peoples even came to Hamburg from New Jersey/USA for the historic evening. For the tough ladies, he skipped the mega fight at Wembley Stadium between Anthony Joshua (34) and Daniel Dubois (27).
He saw a crazy blood battle!
After an accidental headbutt from Bermudez, Meinke was bleeding heavily from a two-centimeter cut on her hairline in the second round. But she fought through and won on points in the end (114:114, 119:109, 118:11).
“We made history,” rejoiced Meinke, paying respect to her opponent. “The cut irritated me at first. Blood ran into my eyes and my vision was blurry at first. At first I was really scared that the fight would be stopped. I kept saying: It’s not that bad! It’s not that bad!”
Sven Ottke (57) was excited at the ring. Her godfather had become IBF world champion in 1998. “Watching her is hell for me. Nina is like my own child. In the end, she should have done the Ottke. But Nina always has to go for it. That’s killing me.”
It was also a tough job for referee Karoline Pütz (23). A week ago, the daughter of BDB President Thomas Pütz had refereed the TV fight between Stefan Raab (57) and Regina Halmich (47). In real boxing, they had to separate the snappy Argentinian and Meinke several times. At the end, she was covered in blood herself…
Kadiru Stark knows not
Peter Kadiru (l.) varied head and body hits against Djuar El Sheikh
Photo: WITTERS
Heavyweight hope Peter Kadir (27) is finally back after his knockout defeat two years ago! The Hamburg native spent a month in England and acted as the main sparring partner of the two-time world champion Anthony Joshua (34) for his mega fight at Wembley against Danny Dubois (27).
Kadiru returned fitter than ever, weighing in at “only” 105.6 kilos – less than ever before. And he boxed with variety and concentration. Accordingly, he dominated the fight against the previously unbeaten Djuar El Sheikh (32). The Berliner (record 22 wins, 1 draw) with Syrian roots is No. 3 in the German heavyweight rankings behind Kabayel Acts (31) and Kadiru – but there is a world of difference between him and Kadiru.
In the fifth round he had beaten El Sheikh softly – and after a hard body blow it was over after 1:25 minutes. The protégé of the former Klitschko manager Bernd Bönte celebrated the first defense of his IBF Intercontinental title on the ring ropes and moved up into the association’s top 15. Kadiru: “Hamburg, I love you!”
Viktor Jurk beats opponent into hospital
The German Heavyweight Champion (BDB) Viktor Dress (24) missed 140-kilo chunks Edon Berisha (20/Wiesbaden) caused a monster cut on his left eyebrow in the first round with his brutal punching power. Referee Hendrik Schramm stopped the fight after 2:31 wild minutes. The opponent was taken to the hospital for stitches.
“We’ll continue training straight away. I’m going to run 10 kilometers on Monday,” said the undefeated Jurk (10 wins/8 KOs) after his first title defense. “The goal is to become world champion.”
Tearful farewell for the fire heart
Dilar Kisikyol (11 wins) retires undefeated as world champion
Photo: WITTERS
Local-Matadorin Dilar Kisikyol (32) defended the WIBF lightweight world title (61.2 kilos) in her last fight against the compact and tough Belgian Djemilla Gontaruk (32) unanimously on points. At the ring, TV veteran Frank Elsner (82), whom the “Feuerherz” knows from her work with Parkinson’s patients.
After 16 years, Kisikyol is now hanging up her boxing gloves and focusing on her social projects. She also wants to pass on her experiences as a speaker. In the ring, she received the award for “Commitment and Self-Help” (25,000 euros) from the Hertie Foundation for her work on Parkinson’s disease.
“My brother always says I’m a crybaby, and tonight I was definitely one,” said Kisikyol, who was born as a triplet and had to fight her way through from the start. “Boxing is the best sport in the world.”
