Arthur Abraham still leading Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament

PanARMENIAN.Net -

However, despite the defeat, Abraham leads the Super Six tournament with 3 points, thanks to knockout over Taylor (USA).

Abraham’s promoter Wilfried Sauerland has no doubts that the tournament point leader Abraham would have knocked Andre Dirrell out had it not been for his controversial disqualification in the 11th round.

“After a slow start, Arthur was finally landing his power punches,” Sauerland said. “He clearly knocked Dirrell down in the tenth and was following it up in the 11th. There is no way Dirrell would have seen the end of the 12th round.”

After reviewing the tape, Sauerland stated that a clearly exhausted Dirrell seized his chance to sneak out of the fight when the chance presented itself, especially with Abraham upping pressure before the controversial ending. “The TV pictures indicate that Dirrell was down, but there is no way Arthur could have realized that in the heat of the moment. He was just trying to keep up the attack. However, Dirrell is a very good actor. We are glad that his check-up at the hospital turned out just fine but frankly we did not expect any other outcome since he was just acting. He deserves an Oscar for his performance.”

The 26-year-old American was taken to hospital after the fight. “I wish him all the best and hope he is fine,” Abraham said. “I thought I could still punch because the referee did not stop us. In the heat of the moment I was not watching his feet but only his head. As a professional boxer, you always try and make pressure.”

Abraham said it was a very competitive fight. “I am a slow starter,” he added. “That is how I fight. But I picked up in the later rounds and connected.” Abraham was knocked down for the first time his career in the fourth but returned the favor in the tenth when he floored Dirrell, although no knock-down was credited.

Team Sauerland will officially protest the verdict

Chess: Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian came 9th at Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament, defeating Cuba’s Leinier Dominguez 1.5:0.5 in the final round.

Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) won the tournament with 14.5 points.

Meanwhile, Lilit Mkrtchyan was the third at Rector’s Cup international tournament in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

“I enjoyed participation in this tournament, which was well-organized. Unfortunately. I did not win it,” she told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. * Armenian chess player Knarik Muradyan won the champion’s title at the Lebanese Chess Championship. Her sister, Susan Muradyan took the second prize.

Meanwhile, Karen Khaloyan (U8), Carlo Darbinyan (U10), Hrak Glpozyan (U12) became champions of the Lebanese Youth Rapid Chess Championship.

Football: Armenia dropped 3 points in FIFA Rankings (now the 106th), topped by Spain with 1602 points.

Armenian women’s team played two Euro 2011 qualifiers, losing 0:1 to Slovenia and 0:7 to Portugal.

Tennis: Rafael Nadal reversed the trend of big name exits in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, but the Spaniard had to fight back from dropping the opening set before edging past Argentine David Nalbandian on Sunday, CNN reported.

Nadal, who was given a first round bye, recovered from losing an opening tie-break to defeat his opponent 6-7 6-2 6-2, setting-up a fourth round showdown with compatriot David Ferrer.

Speaking to the official ATP Tour Web site, Nadal said: "When you go on court against a player with his talent, you are always a little bit scared what will happen. I think having a long first set was better for me than for him. I felt he was a little bit more tired than me. He started to make more mistakes, and it was a little bit easier for me to play.”

Sambo: Armenian sambo wrestler Vachik Vardanyan came 4th at Anatoly Kharlampiyev Memorial held in Moscow on March 25-27.

Olympiad: Singapore will host the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games from August 15 to 26.

On March 22-25, Vice-President of the Armenian National Olympic Committee Derenik Gabriyelyan represented Armenia at a seminar-council of high commissioners of National Olympic Committees.

Organizers of the Games have not constructed new sport complexes, as there are enough sports facilities in Singapore and the city is ready to host guests.

The opening ceremony of the Games will take place on August 14. Tickets’ prices will vary from $30-200.

Two Armenian weightlifters and a judoist have already gained the right to participate in the Olympic Games. But qualification competitions are still under way.

26 sports are included in the Olympic Games program, the idea of the Games belonging to President of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge. Their purpose is to unite young sportsmen from all over the world. The Games also have educational importance.

Hasmik Babayan, Gohar Nalbandyan