Norway has its third reigning world champion, as Tim Robin Lihaug won the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Light Heavyweight title on Saturday night, March 7, joining Cecilia Breakhus and Katharina Thanderz as one of the Scandinavian country´s main boxing stars.
With a nice crowd cheering him on at the Grigehallen in his home-town Bergen, 27-year-old Lihaug scored a unanimous decision over tough, game and rugged Germany-based Armenian co-challenger Vartan Avetisyan.
Lihaug had control of the fight in the first half, but Avetisyan never gave up and had his moments, especially in the second half of the bout. Many rounds were close, but the home-man did just a little bit more of the cleaner work to catch the eyes of the judges.
Judge Torben Seemann Hansen scored the fight 116-112, while judges Sigmund Aagaard and Andre Hook both had it 117-111. Referee in charge of the action was Mikael Hook.
The new WBF World Light Heavyweight Champion improved his professional record to 20-4 (10), while Avetisyan (30) drops to 18-3-1 (11). The fight was the main event of a show promoted by 5000 Bergen Event.
