EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS 7/31/07
Posted on | July 31, 2007 | 1 Comment
Ex-WBA heavy champ Bruce Seldon is out as opponent for Mikael Lindblad September 15 in Karlstad but he has been replaced by another aging ex-champ: “Merciless” Ray Mercer. Mercer vs Lindblad is under the special Swedish rules scheduled for four. Meanwhile Manny Masson, fresh from the Arena camp in Hamburg, is working with another heavy; Aldo Colliander in Karlstad. Aldo could be fighting Robert Daniels on the show. The promoters, Pugnus Boxing Promotion, writes in a press release that this is the biggest show in Sweden since Jimmy Ellis controversially beat Floyd Patterson back in 1968 – and financially it probably is. Former amateur star Tarik Charafi will make his prodebut on the show. Charafi will campaign at lightweight.
The purse bids for Vladimir Virchis´ mandatory defence of the EBU heavyweight title against Nikolai Valuev that had a deadline for today at noon have been postponed until August 2. News on Valuev´s comeback is expected within the next 24 hours.
Female fly queen Regina Halmich had six millions watching her latest titledefence on ZDF Saturday night. Halmich´s career is a perfect example of what marketing and outside of the ring activities can do for a fighter.
Spanish fly veterans Jose A Lopez Bueno and Lahcene Zemmouri square off for the vacant EU title October 20 in Tarragona.
Cuban cruiser Yoan Pablo Hernandez, promoted by Sauerland Event, will battle American Lawrence Chapman on the Abraham vs Gevor show August 18 in Berlin. Hernandez got a very easy win last time when he took out Norwegian Thomas Hansvoll in the first round.
French fly Brahim Asloum, currently training in Las Vegas, will return to action in September but will have to do it outside of France as AMI Production couldn´t find a suitable venue for their planned show. Asloum will now fight on the undercard to a major show in either Japan or Germany.
Chinese female fly Zhang Xi Yan won her first title July 25 in Ascona (Switzerland) with a unanimous decision over German Pia Mazelanik. Zhang will next go for the WBA superfly crown against Korean Kim Ha Na in October at home in China during the WBA convention. She is trained by Nicolas Riffard in Valence, France, and promoted by World Sporting Promotion.
Israeli heavyweight hopeful Roman Greenberg face American veteran Damon Reed on the Mesi vs Williams show August 18 in Sandy, Utah.
Namibian lightweight Paulus Moses will be the opponent for WBA I/C champ Andrey Kudryatsev August 21 on Union Box Team´s show in Donetsk.
EBU middle champ Sebastian Sylvester is now at # 3 in the IBF ratings but it´s not likely he will go for that title held by Arthur Abraham as they are both promoted by Sauerland Event. Instead Sebastian is gunning for a showdown with WBA ruler Felix Sturm.
Lot of action in Italy: on July 30 in Castel Volturno Gaetano Nespro won the vacant national title at 160 with a unanimous decision after ten over Luciano Lombardi. July 31 in San Genesio saw Giacobbe Fragomeni win the vacant EU cruiser crown with an exciting win over Vincenzo Rossitto. The fight was close enough for a draw but the judges apparently awarded Fragomeni´s steady agression. On the undercard jr middle Michele Piccirillo outscored Sylvain Touzlet over six while jr welter Gianluca Branco struggled against Pole Arek Malek but came out a clear winner in another six rounder