KIEL, SCHLEWSIG-HOLSTEIN, GERMANY — WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) put in a workmanlike performance in defeating #5 WBO Paul Smith (35-4, 20 KOs) by a 12 round unanimous decision on Saturday night to retain his WBO title at the Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The final judges’ scores were 117-111, 117-111 and 118-109.
Abraham had to dig into the reserve tanks against huge underdog Smith, but he wound up successfully defending his title.
The fight was one-sided for the most part until the 6th and 7th rounds in which Smith fought well and got the better of Abraham with his body punching and his high work rate.
Abraham came back and dominated the 8th and 9th rounds in landing some heavy right hands. In the 10th, Smith showed new energy in nailing Abraham repeatedly with right hands and left hooks to the body. Abraham controlled the 11th and 12th rounds to cruise to victory.
