London – Freddy ‘Pretty Boy’ Kiwitt, the Liberian–born German boxer has been crowned the World Boxing Organization’s European Welterweight champion following his majority decision Friday night against the Irish boxer Paddy Gallagher at the York Hall Bethnal Green in London.
Kiwitt knocked down the Irishman twice en route to majority decision – 93-95, 95-95, 94-95 win for a shot at a major world title shot in 2019.
The first knockdown in the fifth came in a round that Gallagher had been dominating. He didn’t appear to be hurt but he knew the significance of the setback.
The 29-year-old responded in the sixth and seventh rounds but a flash knockdown in the eighth had Gallagher needing a big finish to the fight if he was to get the decision.
The Belfast fighter finished strongly but it wasn’t enough as Kiwitt got the verdict, dealing Gallagher his fifth career defeat as a professional.
The knockdowns came in the fifth and eighth rounds and ultimately proved decisive on the scorecards.
Friday’s victory put Kiwitt’s win percentage to fifteen professional bouts.
Kiwitt told FrontPageAfrica prior to Friday’s night win that he was putting it all on the line for a shot at a major world championship fight and he delivered.
“This fight is very important for me. It can be life changing. Winning the WBO European title will put me in the Top 10 in the world. I’m planning to fight for the WBO African Title after, so the world title shot is not far anymore.”
Kiwitt is the son of a German father and a Liberian mother. His father, Werner Kiwitt was a German citizen who had come to Nimba County in Liberia in 1985 as an education consultant. It is there he met his wife, Tutu Tour, in Scalepea, the heart of Nimba County.
When a full-scale civil war erupted on the eve of Christmas 1989, Werner and his pregnant wife, Tutu were caught up in the war. Two weeks later, Kiwitt was born. Freddy says he was a few months old before we flew to Germany from the war.
In Germany, Werner and Tutu started a new life with the new addition to the family.
Freddy played football as a young boy but after picking up an injury, he turned to boxing at the age of 18 and had success straight away including a gold medal in international competition. After a short 10 fight career as an amateur Freddy made the decision to enter the pro ranks.