WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei and newly crowned WBO super middleweight champion Karoly Balzsay have commented on their fights over the weekend. Erdei was ecstatic that his friend Balzsay won a world title and took it in stride that his fight was bumped off live TV and into a non-title matchup when opponent Yuri Barashian failed to make weight. For Balzsay, being a world champion is still sinking in.

WBO world champion Zsolt Erdei: “I’m a professional boxer and I have a professional attitude. I did my work. I believe that I did it well. I’m very tired. I can honestlt say that I gave everything today. I used all my strength. Hats off to my opponent who was very strong, but I was better. I won. The circumstances that happened before the fight had no effect on me. When I entered the ring I didn’t think about it. I’m no longer the youngest, but I’ve shown that I can still fight with the young people. So I am very happy and proud of myself. I gave everything that I had.

I was totally absorbed in Karoly’s fight. It was as if I was boxing myself. I would really have given him my belt if it had not worked out. He beat the reigning world champion. Crazy. I totally understood my fight being shifted to the undercard. I have no problem with it. I’m just happy for my countryman. I’ll continue working and achieve what I want.”

Yuri Barashian: “Above all I would like to thank Zsolt and apologize to you all because I couldn’t make the weight. I’ve never had that happen. I’m pleased that our fight was good and the fans liked it. I am sorry that I didn’t win by KO. I exhausted all my strength but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
Making the weight is always under control, but because of an illness I had before, I had to start later with making the weight.”

WBO world champion Karoly Balzsay: “I can’t believe it. I think it’s madness. It’s like a dream. I’m afraid to wake up from this dream. I realized that Denis worked very well tactically. Very fast and from a good distance. So I then changed my rhythm. That worked well for me. Zsolt told me that when I win he’ll carry me on his shoulders and then he did.”

Ex-world champion Denis Inkin: “The fight had a high technical level. But I have to look at the video to see whether the decision was fair.”

Inkin’s trainer Magomed Shaburov: “For me, at the end of this fight Denis was still world champion.”

Erdei/Balzsay trainer Fritz Sdunek: “That was the great fight that Magomed and I have predicted. For me, the four point decision was too much. Karoly landed the clearer punches. The victory is narrow, but deserved. The fans in the hall and on TV saw boxing at its finest. They both showed what they are made of. It was a good decision to switch this fight to live television.”

Promoter Dietmar Poszwa: “Much thanks to Zsolt, who overcome this difficult situation and had a great fight. He won convincingly - despite these conditions. We’re excited about the new world champion Karoly Balzsay. It was a very classy fight. Denis shouldn’t be sad. Our aim now is to get him another title fight as soon as possible.”