Star Boxing

Gennady Golovkin took a while to get the stoppage, but he made it 19 in a row against a very tough Martin Murray. Gennady Golovkin stayed undefeated and ran his stoppage victory streak to 19 fights tonight in Monte Carlo, putting away an inc...

Arthur Abraham and Paul Smith put on a performance that left their first fight in the dust, going toe-to-toe for 12 rounds in Berlin, with Abraham winning a well-earned decision victory.

Whatever fans expected from the rematch between Arthur Abraham and Paul Smith, the two fighters delivered one of the best fights of 2015 so far. They battled as if vying to overshadow their tepid first fight, with Smith boxing in uncharacteristically sharp fashion, and Abraham playing the part of the heavy-handed veteran that he is.

Smith (35-4, 20 KO) poured on the volume early, but Abraham's trademark high guard proved a tough obstacle to get past. Abraham (41-4, 28 KO) played a smart game for an older veteran, conserving his energy in most rounds only to seal the deal with an explosive flurry of right hands whenever Smith let his back touch the ropes. Sometimes it was enough, but at others Smith showed enough heart and tenacity to steal the rounds, such as when he hurt Abraham with a liver shot in the fourth frame and spent a full minute having his way with the defensive German bruiser.  Nonetheless, Abraham's power and veteran wiles proved too much for Smith, who faded somewhat down the stretch.

Abraham retains his WBO super middleweight title.

Arthur Abraham defeats Paul Smith by Unanimous Decision (116-112, 117-111x2).

Bad Left Hook had it 116-114 for Abraham.

Heavyweight David Price scored an important win over Irineu Beato Costa Junior on the undercard, separating himself further from a pair of devastating knockout losses suffered at the hands of Tony Thompson in 2013. Price (19-2, 16 KO) put a beating on his foe, dropping Costa Junior three times in the sixth round before the Brazilian's corner was forced to throw in the towel to save their fighter. Still, Price doesn't seem to have mentally recovered from those two losses, and it's starting to look like he never will--a fact that didn't stop him from calling for a fight with Tyson Fury after the win. Fury fights Christian Hammer next Saturday, February 28th.

David Price defeats Irineu Beato Costa Junior by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 6.

Other Undercard Results:

(175 lbs) Mirco Ricci defeats Enrico Koelling by Unanimous Decision (116-112 x 2, 117-112).

(126 lbs) Josh Warrington defeats Edwin Tellez by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 5.

(200 lbs) Noel Gevor defeats Alejandro Emilio Valori by Unanimous Decision (78-74 x 3).