boxing
Gradus Kraus (24) continues to thunder. The boxing revelation from Oss once again treated around 2,000 Dutch fans to a knockout in the Topsportcentrum in Rotterdam. His tenth in eleven games. The British Theo Brooks, who was also undefeated until Saturday, just saved the bell at the end of round 1, but in round 2 there was no stopping him: Brexit.
The light heavyweight world title is the big target on the horizon for Gradus Kraus. Everything must make way for the boxing revelation from Oss, who, according to his boxing trainer Peter Fury – also the man who prepares Rico Verhoeven for the title fight against Oleksandr Usyk – is exceptionally good.
Kraus and Brooks’ match could have lasted eight rounds of three minutes during the second edition of Boxing Gladiators, but the 2,000 fans in Rotterdam also knew in advance: the Dutch boxer never lets it last that long.
This time it was up to Theo Brooks to stop Kraus’s rise. Not a little boy after all. The Brit may have fought half of Kraus in terms of matches, but he remained undefeated in those five clashes. Could he really pose a danger to the Dutchman?
The answer? No. From round one it was clear what time it was again. With enormous pressure forward, Kraus placed one fist after another on Brooks’ head. With left and right, with an uppercut in between, he didn’t let his opponent catch his breath for a second.
Brooks was given eight counts twice in the first round, but against his better judgement, the tough Briton kept getting back up. You could see from everything that Kraus wanted a knockout in the first round, but that just didn’t work out.
In the second round it was over quickly. Once again the Brit managed to recover from his first eight counts, but then it was over for Brooks, who thus formed ‘just’ a new hurdle for the man with a mission. “What’s next? I don’t actually know. Stay active,” Kraus said.
Magical return of Geraldo Holzken
After Tony Jas also treated the many fans from The Hague to a victory, another highlight of the evening was the return of Geraldo Holzken, the 19-year-old son of former world champion Nieky Holzken. The youngster took a break from boxing due to mental problems, but returned to the ring in Rotterdam after ten months. And how.
The Magician, Holzken’s nickname, lived up to his name. A magician guided father Nieky into a large cupboard and after a while hocus-pocus it was son Geraldo who appeared and entered the ring. And there he showed that he has not forgotten boxing yet.
The jury was unanimous and decided on Holzken as the winner. “I thought it was a shitty match,” but he was nevertheless not very impressed. “But my nickname is The Magician so next time everyone come and see my new trick,” he concluded with a grin.
Knockout
The Nijmegen knockout gun Elaige Camara, who won all his seven previous matches by knockout, initially had his hands more than full with the British Devon Miller. The two imposing cruiserweights treated the 2,000 fans in Rotterdam to devastating blows, with the two barely avoiding each other. But in the sixth round it happened again. “On to the next one,” shouted the Nijmegen resident, who knocked Miller to the canvas.
In the first match of the ‘main card’, Zaan boxer Mike Horn was crowned Benelux champion by beating Cristofer Torres from the Dominican Republic in the middleweight
Results (winners in bold)
Bonus card
Marieke Calis – Kris-Anne Mulder – jury decision
Abdel Sakr – Colin from Haarlem – jury decision
Steve Suppan – Edis Biberovic – jury decision
Kervan Boom – Kian Terwint (draw)
Main card
Mike Horn – Cristofer Torres – jury decision
Elaige Camara – Deevorn Miller – technical knockout
Geraldo Holzken – Octavian Cretu – jury decision
Tony Jas – Przemyslaw Runowski – jury decision
Gradus Kraus – Theo Brooks – technical knockout
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That’s it for tonight!
Kraus looks back
“I take every match seriously as if I were fighting for the world title. I do my best and want to do everything I can to put the Netherlands on the map. I will continue to train hard anyway, probably again on Monday.
The referee puts an end to it!
Kraus wins after a hard punch to the body in the second half of the second round! Kraus leaves a trail of destruction behind. He never got into trouble himself!
Brooks in survival mode
The Englishman throws a few dangerous punches, but not much later he kneels for the third time.
Brooks to the canvas for the second time
End of exercise? No! Brooks is saved by the bell. It seems like only a matter of time until this fight is over.
Brooks goes down!
One and a half minutes left in the first round! A knockdown. We’ll go a little further.
We have started!
Theo Brooks is already staggering and we’re barely a minute in!
Rise of Gradus Kraus
He is accompanied to the stage with the song ‘Shoulder Lean’ and, together with his daughter, shakes his shoulders a bit before we start. We’re going to box for eight rounds of three minutes.
And now: the main event
The fight we’ve all been waiting for. Gradus Kraus (10-0-0) takes on the British Theo Brooks (5-0-0). The IBF European light heavyweight title is at stake. Kraus is the title holder!
Nice victory for Jas!
He took a real risk by taking on the experienced Pole, but he convincingly put him aside. His record remains squeaky clean: 8-0-0.
Tony Jas wins!
According to a jury member, only one round does not go to the Dutchman! A resounding victory!
Jas fights out the match professionally
He doesn’t get into trouble on the last lap. Jas constantly puts his well-moving Polish opponent in reverse and doesn’t concede much himself. Victory no longer seems to be an option for him. The jury will now look at it!
Time for final round
It is a fight in which the details make the difference. But also in round five, Tony Jas was constantly the aggressor. If he can stay on his feet for another three minutes, victory seems almost certain!
Jas continues to show bravado
If the fight continues at this rate, the Dutchman is heading for a win. But there are no real highlights yet. Two more three-minute rounds!
The Dutchman corners his opponent
Jas actually stood in the middle of the ring the entire time in this third round. He handed out a number of pinpricks, but there has been no major damage so far. But he continues to score good points!
Jas delivers the first serious punches
The second round also started quietly, but towards the end he increased the pace with a number of sharp punches. The mental advantage currently lies with the Dutchman.
Few highlights in the first round
The first act of the match between Jas and Runowski has few highlights. There was a lot of scanning.
The bell has sounded!
Tony Jas has started his party!
Tony Jas with a special attendance
He is accompanied to the ring with his own hardstyle song ‘one team, one task. We do it for The Hague, Tony Jas is the danger,” the text reads.
Time for the co-main battle in a moment!
Tony Jas will soon compete against Przemysław Runowski. Jas has a special background. For example, he is assisted by the widow of Muhammed Ali. Read the story here. The 27-year-old from The Hague has a record of 7-0-0. His Polish opponent also has a nice record: 22-4-1. This is a match in the super welterweight division.
