Dutch light heavyweight Gradus Kraus became a serious contender last night, continuing to impress with a disabling second-round knockout against German representative Rostam Ibrahim in Rotterdam. The show was hosted by rising Dutch promoter Angelo Rosalia in association with British-based promotion — GBM.
Sitting ringside for commentary detail, it was a short night’s work for everyone involved. Two thousand eager fans packed into the sold-out Sportcomplex De Wilgenring to witness Ibrahim (13-2-2, 8 KOs) being knocked out cold to the delight of claiming the IBF European belt.
An explosive first round really caught fire with Ibrahim landing a big left hand to chin check Kraus (9-0, 8 KOs), rattling the Dutchman’s head at the halfway stage. He would more than return the favour as he went looking to set up a big right hand behind his left hook, come jab. Despite being caught by Ibrahim’s right hand on two occasions, Kraus stung into action to close the opening three minutes. Ibrahim loaded up another right hand, but walked into a stiff left jab, and as Kraus stepped back, the German was caught by a double left jab and a right hand. Kraus landed another clean right to the chin as the round closed with the Dutch crowd in uproar.
The pair traded again with just over a minute left until the second round. Ibrahim attacked with a straight right hand but was caught with a left hand to hit the canvas face-first as the Dutchman climbed the corner to pose for his home country crowd. Ibrahim reluctantly got to his feet as the fight result became certain.
Kraus was immediately back on the hunt and was intent on claiming the early finish. Ibrahim attempted a right to the body but was caught by two left hooks for his efforts. Kraus cornered the German, but to Ibrahim’s credit, he would fire back with a right to the chin, but the Dutchman wasn’t affected and seemed to mimic some distress. Kraus composed himself to wait for the perfect opening.
He found just that with multiple left hooks; the final shot rattled his opponent’s chin as he fell flat on his back to the canvas. The towel came flying in before the referee could begin a count, but was ready to instantly wave the fight off regardless. The official time of the stoppage came with 43 seconds left on the clock.
Following the victory, his co-promoter Izzy Asif claimed that Kraus “will be chasing a world title shot in 2026” and that the 24-year-old “beats Ben Whittaker now!”
Michael Webster Retired By Hughie Fury
To say the chief support was anticlimactic would be an understatement! Two English heavyweights, Hughie Fury and Michael Webster, made the short trip over the English Channel to give the event an intriguing undertone. However, Webster (10-4, 6 KOs) threw in the towel after the first round, claiming he had injured his lower back. Fury (31-3, 18 KOs) looked levels above Webster in the short space he had to impress. The former world title challenger took the fight to Webster from the opening bell, coming forward at any opportunity to detonate some big right hands. If it weren’t for his team throwing in the towel, Webster and all watching were well aware he wouldn’t make it through another three minutes.
In a bizarre ending lower down on the undercard, super welterweight Tony Jas forced fellow Dutchman Steve Suppan to receive a standing ten-count due to repeated vomiting. Jas (6-0, 5 KOs) cornered Suppan (15-4-1, 7 KOs) to land a wide range of shots, forcing the knockdown. Suppan’s mouthguard fell out in the process. When he tried to put his mouthguard back in with the help of his corner, he was continuously sick into the bucket, forcing the referee into a count, eventually waving the fight off.
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