The wolves couldn’t catch up before the first gong: Chemnitz’s Yves Kentsch (r.) was clearly defeated by the tractor driver Agasi Margaryan in the welterweight division
Even before the first fists flew: backlog without defeat. “The virus has once again intervened in the competition,” said Olaf Leib, head coach of BC Chemnitz 94, on Saturday evening jW-Conversation. His lightweight had to be quarantined at short notice due to the corona. The result: the two points in the weight class were gone. An extra advantage for the big favorites from the host German team champion BC Traktor Schwerin, admitted its sports director Paul Döring jW one.
The tractor drivers were under pressure. At the start of the boxing league at the end of January, they narrowly lost to their long-term rivals BSK Hannover-Seelze. If the title defense mission was to succeed, the Saxons had to be sent onto the boards. They fought back. A recipe: Set left uppercuts from half-distance. The Chemnitz bantamweight Ani Haxhillari, a southpaw, countered the Wahl Schweriner Alen Rahimic several times – and won the battle by a hair’s breadth. Fights three and four were clear, however, at light welterweight and welterweight. Jan Ualikhanov scored confidently for the »Wolves« from ex-Karl-Marx-Stadt, Agasi Margaryan for Mecklenburg. The home team led 6:5, break for the opponents. Time for background information.
Boxbundesliga, not an easy project. The penultimate season ended prematurely, the last one was cancelled. The Pandemic. Since then, some traditional clubs have lacked the budget for a Bundesliga squad, such as the record champions Velberter BC. Currently only four teams in the mini league are clinching for the title. In addition to Schwerin, Chemnitz and Hanover-Seelze, the boxing department of the newcomer TSV 1860 Munich. The boxing is in a relay with a return match in nine limits. The two first-placed winners decide who becomes the champion in two final battles.
Back in the ring. After the half-hour rest phase, the tractor turned up the heat. That was felt first by Martin Grohmut in the light middleweight division. His opponent, Heidar Chaker, dominated from a closed cover, built up a lot of pressure and landed body shots. One reason: Grohmut was inactive for two years because of the job. “I need a fight or two to get in properly,” he said jW. In the two following one-on-ones, Schwerin went in front with 12:8 and could not be caught. There was still first-class exchange of blows.
Heavyweight: Melvin Kahrimanovic vs. Laurens Hagen. Hagen, who starts for Chemnitz, has only been boxing for three years, before that he rowed. Visually a model athlete. “I knew it was going to be tough,” Kahrimanovic said jW late hour. So respect was the order of the day, especially since the tractor driver is usually at home in the lighter weight classes. He knows: “In the heavyweight division, I sometimes lack the physique.” His strongest weapon that evening: the left hand that stings. The bottom line is that it is a duel on an equal footing, which the judges judge in favor of Kahrimanovic. The Schwerin super heavyweight Nelvie Tiafack provided the final point. With ambush-like advances, he brought his opponent Nikita Putilov to the brink of knockout. Final result: 16:10 for the title holder.
Disappointed? The Chemnitz trainer Leib: “No, not at all.” As a blatant outsider, Schwerin was no longer there. “Our young boxers should get a taste of the Bundesliga, see where they stand in terms of performance.” That’s right, the league is a top-class showcase for talent and established players alike. And maybe it would be a draw before the first gong in the revenge game, Leib said jokingly.
