Arslan wins one-sided decision against Wilson in WBA title fight

By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

STUTTGART, Germany - Firat Arslan pounded out a one-sided decision against American Darnell Wilson on Saturday in the first defence of his WBA cruiserweight title.

The German pressed the fight from the opening seconds. He hit Wilson with regularity beginning in the second round, when a left hook sent the American into the ropes.

All three judges ruled the fight 117-111.

The best round for Wilson (23-7-3, 20 knockouts) was the seventh when he picked up the pace, catching the German several times and getting him to back off for a while.

"I was worried about a lucky punch until the last. He hit hard," Arslan said. "I wanted to pressure him so hard he couldn't use his power."

Arslan (28-3, 18 knockouts) is a 37-year-old who won the title last November against Virgil Hill. The self-taught fighter didn't have a trainer and manager until his last six fights.

Wilson took a lot of shots in the final rounds, getting jarred by a hard left in the 10th round, but he has never been dropped to the canvas. Arslan, too, took some good shots, but also has never gone down.

"I fought my heart out," Wilson said. "I came in feeling confident tonight, but he was better."