By Mark Vester

At the Universum Gym in Hamburg, Germany, Alexander Dimitrenko (31-1, 21KOs) knocked out Albert Sosnowski (46-4-1, 28KOs) in the twelfth and final round to retain the EBU [European] heavyweight title.

Sosnowski was aggressive and taking the fight to Dimitrenko. There were a lot of early clinches because of the difference in height. Dimitrenko wasn't able to work a good enough jab to keep Sosnowski at bay. Sosnowski had no problems with getting on the inside of Dimintrenko. The 6'7 champion was looking for a big knockout punch at all times. In the third, the tide began to change as Sosnowski was starting to catch punches when he charged inside.

Sosnowski was stunned by a few punches in round five, as Dimitrenko began to work a decent jab that was followed by bigger punches. Dimitrenko was landing some very heavy punches in the sixth round. And in the final minute, Dimitrenko landed a combination that badly hurt Sosnowski. The Polish boxer managed to hang on until the bell.

In round seven, Sosnowski came back with a better round but once again he got stunned in the final ten seconds. The uppercut was working well for Dimitrenko. He would time and catch Sosnowski as he rushed in. At the end of the ninth, Sosnowski took a good punch but came back swinging and held his own in the tenth and eleventh.

In the twelfth and final round, Dimitrenko once again landed his money punch when he caught Sosnowski with another huge uppercut, and this time he knocked the Polish boxer out cold. Sosnowski was counted out as he laid motionless on his back. Medical staff members rushed in to help the boxer.

They were scheduled to fight last year. The fight was canceled when Dimitrenko fainted in the dressing room only moments before the fight was scheduled to take place.