EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS

Posted on | September 5, 2008 | No Comments

September 4, Karlstad, Sweden:

The second edition of Pugnus Boxing Promotions´ Night of the Champions is billed as the biggest show in Sweden for 40 years (or since Floyd Patterson lost to Jimmy Ellis in 68 in Stockholm). Well, we haven´t had that much since then considering that the ban on pro boxing came into effect January 1, 1970 and lasted until January 1, 2007, but it´s still an interesting show hurt badly by the special Swedish rules.

Former heavyweight champion of the World, Michael Moorer, in Karlstad as trainer for “Minnesota Ice”, Joey Abell and Al Cole, Abell´s opponent, go back a long time. Cole beat Moorer in the US qualification for the Olympic games in 88. -But Al had to take two standing counts and I still lost, how political was that, said Moorer with a stiff smile and one could feel the loss still hurt him – 20 years later. Cole kept smling and reminded everybody that it wasn´t Moorer he was fighting but Abell, who in turn stated that he was lucky to have a trainer who could do the talking for him. -But I do the fighting, said Joey. Cole, with three years off, came in at 103,2 kg / 227,5, lbs while Abell scaled 107,5 /237.

“Merciless” Ray Mercer stepped on the scales fully dressed and weighed 113,8 kg / 251 lbs. -Last year I fought the Blonde Bomber, said Ray, and this year I fight the Brown Bomber!

Mercer knocked out Swedish heavy Michael Lindblad last year also in Karlstad and will tomorrow fight Dutchman Richel Hersisia, a trim 102 kg / 224,75 lbs over six two minute rounds (12 minutes remain the max distance for proboxing in Sweden). Hersisia will have former WBO cruiser champ Ralf Rocchigiani as chief cornerman.

Attila Levin, residing in Florida, will fight for the first time in Sweden as a pro. In one of his last amateur fights he stopped Anders Holmberg, one of the promoters for tomorrow´s show. Levin, a big man at 116,8 kg / 257,5 lbs, will face an even bigger man in Russian Evgeny Orlov, 129,3 kg / 285 lbs, who have Dirk Dzemski in the corner.

Anna Ingman, 68,1 / 150,25, from Karlstad, square off against Olivia Fonseca, 66,9 / 147,5, for the vacant WBC and WPBF Int´l jr middle titles. Ingman will have Swedish legend Leffe Carlsson and EBU jr welter champ Vinni Skovgaard in her corner.

Sauerland Event brings in the Nordic Nightmare, Robert Helenius, who arrived late on the same plane as opponent Ergin Solmaz.

Danish welter Allan Vester might be left without opponent as Pascal Bruno had missed the plane from Nairobi – he was reported to be on his way on another plane but no-one was really sure.

Pugnus Boxing Promotions, promoters for this show, and Danish promoter Anders Vester are again looking into a co-promotion on Danish soil to get around the Swedish rules. A possible site mentioned is Fredrikshavn – easy to reach from Sweden via ferry from Gothenburg.

Other news: German heavy Timo Hoffmann is indeed off the planned comeback for October 4. However, Timo have signed with SES and will most likely return October 10 in Barleben – if the German Federation, the BDB, take one month off the one-year long suspension Timo received in November of last year and signs are good that they will.

Team Palle won today´s purse bids in Rome for Lolenga Mock´s defence of the EU supermiddle title against Cristian Sanavia with a bid for 33 333 EUR. Sauerland Event finished second. Site and place haven´t been announced.

Universum have added Russian cruiser Aleksander Alekseev to the big show in Hamburg September 27. Alekseev, already one of the best in world, face American veteran Rob Calloway in a WBO I/C titlefight.

notifight.com hints that it will Belorus Sergey Gulyakevich and Jorge Linares that will fight for the vacant WBA jr light title.

Septermber 5, Karlstad, Sweden:

Former heavyweight champ “Merciless” Ray Mercer had enough left to beat “the Dutch Sonny Liston” Richel Hersisia on a majority decision over six two minute rounds. It was scored 59-55 for Mercer from two Swedish judges while Belgian Daniel Van de Wiele came up with 57-57. Mercer controlled the action behind a heavy jab in the first rounds and seemed to shake Hersisia in the second. The Dutchman had good spells in the fourth and fifth when Mercer looked every bit a faded 47-year old. In the final round Ray went for the body and Hersisa didn´t like that one bit and with the strong finish Mercer won 58-56 on my card.

Florida-based Swedish heavy Attila Levin made his Swedish debut as a pro and won over big Russian Evgeny Orlov on scores of 39-37 twice and 40-36 over 4×3. Levin looked good in the first two but then faded and was under pressure in the last.

Former cruiser champ Alfred “Ice” Cole returned and won a split call over Joey “Minnesota” Abell over six-two minute rounds. It was scored 58-57 twice for Cole and 58-56 Abell. Joey finished with a bad cut in a tough fight that saw both shaken at one time or another. Cole knew more than Abell but didn´t have enough left to show it while Joey, now trained by Michael Moorer, showed a lot of improvement but as Moorer said, could have done more.

Danish welter Allan Vester boxed his way to safety first win over Tanzanian Pascal Bruno. Vester looked good in the fourth and last round but other than it was another day in the office.

Anna Ingman won the WBC and WPBF Int´l titles for women over six-two minute rounds with a unanimous decision over Olivia Fonseca. It was scored 60-54, 60-55 and 59-55.

The Nordic Nightmare, Finnish-Swedish heavy Robert Helenius outscored German Ergin Solmaz over four winning on 40-35 on all cards. Solmaz took a standing eight count in the third and was hurt in the last.

Norwegian superbantam Reidar Walstad beat Bulgarian Iordan Vasilev over four. It was scored 39-37, 40-36 and 40-37 but Vasilev, the bigger man, made Reidar work hard for his victory.

Philadelphia´s Julius Edmonds lost a split decision to Swedish welter Cliff Soukka over four. It was scored 39-37 twice for Soukka and 39-37 for Edmonds, who did well and seemed to have nicked it.

News: Arena Box Promotion have now announced the complete program for their show in Cuxhaven, Germany, September 12. WBC Int´l welter champ Selcuk Aydin derfends against once touted – still capable Russian Marat Khuzeev. Cuban heavy Odlanier Solis fights Chad Van Sickle, at middleweight his compatriot Erislandy Lara is in against Latvian Denis Alekseev. Steffen Kretschmann returns from layoff due to injuries and square off against American Otis Tisdale.

The German Oak, Timo Hoffmann is now officially on for the show in Barleben October 10. WBC Youth champ at jr welter Oliver Guettel headlines and defends the title against American Brandon Baue.