Abril defends lightweight belt against Bogere
Soliman threatens legal action over doping report
LAS VEGAS, March 3, (AP): Cuba’s Richar Abril defended his WBA lightweight title with a unanimous decision against Uganda’s Sharif Bogere on Saturday.
Bogere turned the bout into a brawl early, pressing forward to get inside and frustrate the taller Abril.
Abril was forced to wrap up Bogere in defense and both fighters tumbled to canvass more than once during the fight. Abril was docked one point in the eighth round for holding and Bogere was penalized one point in the 12th for leading with his head.
“I don’t like fighting dirty fighters and I lost my concentration,” Abril said. “I thought I won the fight even though it wasn’t clean.”
An accidental head-butt opened up a large gash over the right eye of Abril in the sixth round which seemed to energize both boxers and sway the momentum toward the champion.
“I had confidence in my corner,” Abril said. “The blood didn’t disrupt me, I am trained for situations like this.”
Abril’s activity increased and he was able to create the distance needed to use his length. Abril weathered the storm and found his range in the later rounds, landing effective com- binations to keep the charging Bogere at bay.
The judges scored the bout 115-111, 116-110 and 116-110. Abril improved to 18-3-1 (8 KO’s) while Bogere suffered his first loss and fell to 23-1 (15 KO’s).
In Sydney, Australian boxer Sam Soliman has threatened legal action after a German newspaper reported that he failed a drug test taken before his win over former WBA champion Felix Sturm in their IBF middleweight title eliminator last month.
Federation of German Professional Boxers president Thomas Puetz told the daily Bild that Soliman’s urine sample tested positive for an undisclosed banned substance.
In Berlin, Putz said a “difficult to detect designer drug with stimulating effects was found” following the 39-yearold Soliman’s unanimous decision win over Sturm in Duesseldorf on Feb. 1.
Soliman can present his case at a hearing. Puetz said he will inform Germany’s National Anti-Doping Agency and the IBF.
No. 1 IBF contender Soliman took to Twitter on Sunday to refute the claim.
“Drug allegations are complete nonsense and an insult. Anyone who knows me knows my views about drug cheats,” Soliman wrote.
“The matter is now in the hands of my lawyers & it will be pursued 2 the fullest extent possible. I won’t be commenting further.”
In Sydney, Soliman’s manager David Stanley told Australian Associated Press that the doping accusations were “unfounded allegations.”
“He’s absolutely gobsmacked because this (anti-doping) is a very important principle that he lives by,” Stanley said of Soliman’s reaction when told of the news on Sunday in Australia.
Soliman, who is negotiating a fight between Soliman and IBF middleweight world champion Daniel Geale later this year, said he was awaiting official notification after the positive test claim.