Ludwigsburg, Germany: Heavy: Erwin Teper (15-0) W KO 2 David Price (19-3). Heavy: Franz Rill (10-0) W PTS 8 Paul Butlin (16-22-1). Heavy: Christian Lewandowski (5-0) W TKO 4 Gabriel Enguema (5-2).
Teper vs. Price – Teper wins the vacant EBU title with crushing second round kayo of Price. Teper came out marching forward behind a high guard and immediately took Price to the ropes. The German landed a left to the chin and a right to the side of the head and as they came off the ropes he landed a big overhand right on Price’s jaw and got through with another couple of punches as Price tried to clinch. Price was pushed on to the back foot and fired a series of counters as Teper moved forward. Despite having height, reach and weight over Teper Price was just pushing with his jab and it was not enough to stop Teper coming forward and roughing up Price inside. Price ended a torrid first round with a cut over his left eye.
Price was still on the back foot at the start of the second. Suddenly Teper step inside with a right to the side of the head and as Price tried to slid away from it he moved into a left hook which landed flush on the chin. Price was thrown down flat on the canvas with his head sticking out through the bottom rope. The referee started the count but Price was out from the moment that left hook landed and the referee quickly waived the fight off. Huge win for 33-year-old 6’5” (195cm) Teper and his tenth finish by KO/TKO. He was IBF No 10(9) but will climb much higher after this sensational win.
A former World Military silver medal winner he is trained by Oktay Urkal the former EBU super light and welter champion and a former super light and welter world title challenger. It is difficult to see where Price goes from here. He was rated IBF 5(4)/WBO 11 and WBA 14 but will drop out of sight now. They say once can be bad luck, twice coincidence but three is a pattern and this is Price’s third loss by KO/TKO and at 32 it will be difficult to start over and even if he does those three losses put a question mark over how far he can hope to go. However his promoter is standing by him and they are prepared to support Price if he decides to continue.
Rill vs. Butlin – Canadian-born Rill outpoints English veteran Butlin. Rill 6’4 ½” (194) had height and reach over Butlin and was able to score well to head and body. Butlin is a practised survivor and despite being shaken on a few occasions and suffering a cut over his left eye he did his job and took Rill the full eight rounds. The 27-year-old Rill is not yet in the EBU ratings where they rate 17 heavyweights but is just outside at No 17 in the EU ratings. Butlin, 39, has only been beaten nine times by KO/TKO in his 22 losses.
Lewandowski vs. Enguema – German prospect Lewandowski halts Spaniard Enguema in a battle of big men. The German had the better skills and was in control over the first three rounds before flooring Enguema twice in the fourth. The first came from a right and after the Spaniard got up a hard combination put him down again and the fight was stopped. The 6’7” (201cm) Lewandowski goes past the second round for the first time as he has two first round wins and two second round. The 22-year-old was twice German Under-21 champion and twice won bronze medals at the German Senior Championships. Enguema 6’ 5 ½” (197cm) had lost on points to Rill over eight rounds in March.