Photos: Lanzarotedeportiva
Spectacular boxing evening experienced on Saturday night at the Municipal Pavilion of Teguise. The Villa de Teguise and Lanzarote, hosted for the first time a European Boxing Championship and in which Robert Hilario "Tiburón" voluntarily defended the European Union champion belt. In a tough fight, in which "Tiburón" could not display his best boxing against Roberto Cocco "El Martillo", the victory went to Robert Hilario "Tiburón" on points. The Italian made things difficult and the aim was not to let his opponent be comfortable in the ring.
The Municipal Pavilion of Teguise presented its best clothes to host the European Boxing Championship evening. There were few tickets that were left unsold, registering almost a full house. The authorities, among whom were the president of the Cabildo, Pedro San Ginés, the mayor of Teguise, Oswaldo Betancort, or the Minister of Sports of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Migdalia Machín, did not miss the event and supported Robert at all times Hilario "Tiburón".
The first rounds between Robert Hilario "Tiburón" and Roberto Cocco "El Martillo", were marked by equality. The two pugilists studied each other in the ring, keeping their distance and dodging punches with great speed. "Tiburón" tried to increase the pace of his boxing, although at no time did he feel comfortable in the ring. The Italian had several rounds in which he punished Robert Hilario from below, in order to wear down his strength.
As the rounds progressed, Robert Hilario "Tiburón" became desperate with Roberto Cocco's trickery. The Italian received the warning from the main referee on several occasions, due to a bad position of the head when trying to defend himself. These actions were unnerving Robert Hilario "Tiburón" and he even received some pushes and the evil arts of Roberto Cocco.
The support of the public was fundamental in the final stretch of the fight. "Tiburón" began to feel the breath of the spectators who filled the Pavilion Municipal of Teguise. The support was fundamental for the local boxer to come up and go for it in the last two rounds. In the last round, Robert Hilario "Tiburón" with an accurate blow managed to make Roberto Cocco put his knee on the canvas, this being one of the circumstances that could tip the fight in favor of "Tiburón". Cocco got up, making an offensive in the last seconds.
The defense of the European Boxing Championship in the "Super Middleweight" category had to be decided on points. Erkki Morenen (Finland), André Pasquier (France) and Beat Hausammann (Switzerland), judges of the boxing evening, gave the victory by unanimity on points to Robert Hilario "Tiburón", revalidating in this way the European Union champion belt. "Tiburón" obtained a score of 348 points, compared to 335 points obtained by Roberto Cocco.
Robert Hilario "Tiburón" successfully defends the belt of champion of the European Union. In the coming months he will have to make a mandatory defense, his rival being a boxer proposed by the Federation European Boxing. The boxer from Lanzarote, of Dominican origin, will take a week of rest to disconnect mentally and in a few dates will begin to prepare for the next challenges.
The defense of the European Union champion belt between Robert Hilario "Tiburón" and Roberto Cocco was jointly organized by the City Council of Teguise, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, the Canary Boxing Federation and Rimer Box. And it was sponsored by FitnessMania, Blue Sea Hotels & Resorts and Cabrera Medina.
