EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS
Posted on | January 27, 2008 | No Comments
German press writes today that former IBF and WBA
supermiddle champ Sven Ottke could be coming back to
face Dariusz Michalczewski May 24 in Hannover.
Michalczewski, 48-2 and former longtime WBO lightheavy
ruler, should have fought another oldtimer in Graciano
Rocchigiani but “Rocky” have pulled out. Ottke makes
no ifs and buts about why he is coming back: money –
Ottke retired well off but an expensive divorce have
cost him a lot of money. The fight with Michalczewski
is not a done deal yet but should be signed next week.
Ottke, 34-0, retired in 2004 after 20 successful
titledefences. Michalczewski quit in 2005 after first
losing the WBO lightheavy belt and then to then WBA
cruiser king Fabrice Tiozzo. Both men have their best
days far behind them but should be fresh enough to
make it interesting. The fight is made at 84 kg / 185 lbs.
January 26, Berlin, Germany:
Russian heavy Alexander Povetkin, 15-0, outscored
“Fast” Eddie Chambers, 30-1, over twelve in an IBF
eliminator. There were no knockdowns. It was scored
117-111, 119-109 and 116-112. The early part of the
fight was very exciting with Chambers getting off with
quick counters against his agressive opponent.
Povetkin was clearly rocked in the first and third but
worked hard and gradually took over, in the mid-rounds
it was as if Chambers gave it away. He protected
himself well but his workrate dropped. Povetkin kept
coming, kept a very fast pace and while not that
effective he was winning rounds. In the eighth
Chambers came back a little but by now he was tired
and not that precise with his punches.
In the co-feature EBU middle champ Sebastian Sylvester
outscored French challenger Francois Bastient. It was
scored 120-108, 118-109 and 119-108. The challenger
was down in the eighth and outboxed throughout. At the
same time Sylvester took no risks which for a not very
exciting fight.
Cruiser Enad Licina impressed in outpointing tough
Czech Lubos Suda over eight. It was scored 79-73,
80-74 and 80-73.
Jr welter Frank Shabani won over Italian Italo
Brussolo in another eight-rounder.
Sauerland Event´s First Lady, jr welter Cecilia
Braekhus stopped Wanda Pena Ozuna in the fourth and
final round,.
News: Sweden-based Ugandan Peter Semo pulled off of a
big upset last night in Rome when he stopped defending
IBF I/C jr welter champ Fedele Bellusci in the tenth
round. Bellusci was down in the second and twice more
in the tenth before it was stopped. Semo, promoted and
managed by Scandinavia Pro Box (Rolf Traff and Eddie
Bazira) normally campaigns at lightweight
The two Belgian EBU champs, Jackson Osei Bonsu and
Carmelo Ballone will both make voluntary defences
during the spring. “Sugar” Osei Bonsu, at welter, will
reap off the resurrection of boxing in Antwerp and
defend the title May 3 while bantam Ballone face Marat
Mazimbaev March 15 in Almaty, Kazachstan.
Matt Skelton could be the one for Luan Krasniqi if
Aleksander Dimitrenko doesn´t change his mind in
regards of the fight for the vacant EBU heavy title.
Finnish heavy Juho Haapoja goes for the new and vacant
Baltic Boxing Union title April 5 in Vasa on a Steel
Ring promotion. The BBU title is open to all boxers
living in the Baltic Sea region.
Dutch lightweight Innocent Anyanwu headlines a show in
the Hague Februay 17. Anyanwu will have another fight
in the Netherlands before headlining the annual
Fernand Roelands Memorial May 1 in Bruges, Belgium, in
a possible defence of the BeNeLux title.