BOXING Koval drops decision in Germany

The Austintown fighter lost to Alexander Dimitrenko in 10 rounds.
LEVERKUSEN, KUPPERSTEG, GERMANY -- In the second featured fight of a nine-bout card promoted by Universum Box Promotion at Wilhelm-Dopatka-Halle, Alexander Dimitrenko was extended through 10 rounds before he was voted a unanimous decision winner over Austintown's Chris Koval Saturday night.
Two judges voted 98-91 and a third judge voted 98-92 for Dimitrenko, a native of the Ukraine who resides in Hamburg, Germany. The win gave him the vacant International Boxing Federation Youth heavyweight championship.
Dimitrenko, known as "Baby Face" to his German fans, improved his record to 18-0 but was unable to get the 12th knockout of his career as Koval gave him all he could handle in a hard fought fight.
Scores early knockdown
After a fairly even first round, Koval stunned Dimitrenko near the end of round two when he nailed the 6-foot-7 giant with a vicious overhand right that sent Dimitrenko to the canvas.
Earlier in the second round an accidental butt partially closed Koval's right eye.
"It was the most beautiful punch I have ever landed and at the time I thought I had him," said Koval. "I thought the fight was over, but it was near the end of the round when I caught him and he was able to survive."
Both fighters weighed in at 249 pounds and Dimitrenko, using his 83-inch reach well, went to a powerful left jab and his boxing ability to win most of the following rounds as he stayed away from Koval's power punches.
"After the head butt my right eye was nearly closed the rest of the fight," said Koval, now 20-2.
Height disadvantage
Koval gave away 4 inches in height to Dimitrenko and in the later rounds he tried to go inside, working left hooks to the body.
"The decision wasn't as decisive as the final voting numbers, but Dimitrenko's superior jab was really the difference in this fight," said Pat Nelson, Koval's manager.
Added Koval: "Dimitrenko kept his jab in my face and boxed a smart fight, but the opportunity was there for me and I fought a tough fight."
In the main event of the card, a scheduled 12-rounder for the World Boxing Organization's Intercontinental middleweight championship, Felix Sturm knocked out Burt Schenk at 2:01 of the second round.
Sturm, from Hamburg, is 23-1 with 11 knockouts and ranked seventh in the world. He used two solid rights to finish Schenk (36-2).