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England-based Polish prospect Grzegorz Proksa took a big step up in class today against Sebastian Sylvester in Germany, and made it look easy, battering and busting up the veteran German over three, one-sided rounds, before Sylvester pulled out of the fight.
The win gives Proksa (26-0, 19 KO) the European middleweight title. His style had a lot of Sergio Martinez and a little Joe Calzaghe, and he was able to just impose his will on Sylvester (34-5-1, 16 KO) with no trouble whatsoever. The 26-year-old was far too fast, too strong, and didn't allow Sylvester, 31, to do anything at all.
Proksa has all the looks of a potential player at 160 pounds, and should be considered a candidate for top ten in a rapidly changing but still fairly weak division. How good Andy Lee looks tonight (or how bad, I guess) may determine how high of a climb this was for Proksa, but he's definitely in the discussion now.
This may prove to be the end for Sylvester on the major level, but on the other hand, he may find himself in line to face Felix Sturm now, a rematch he's desired for a few years.