EUROPEAN BOXING NEWS
Posted on | December 2, 2007 | No Comments
EBU welter champ Jackon Osei Bonsu, one most exciting fighters in Europe right now, defends the title against Frenchman Brice Faradji January 12 at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp.
Purse bids for EBU middle champ Sebastian Sylvester?s mandatory defence against WBA # 1 challenger Javier Castillejo will now not take place until January 28, 08. This means Finn Amin Asikainen, EBU # 1, will be kept waiting. Sylvester will make a voluntary defenceof the title January 26 in Berlin against Francois Bastient in a supporting bout to the IBF heavyweight eliminator between Eddie Chambers and Alexander Povetkin.
Hungarian cruiser Gyorgi Hidvegi defends the WBF title December 15 in Dessau on the same bill as female multiple champ Natascha Ragosina looks to add a fifth belt to her collection.
Belgian Ismail Abdoul headlines the annual December 25 show in Izegem. Abdoul, normally a cruiser but with his best weight at lightheavy, looks to win the vacant national title at heavyweight before going away on a lengthy “vacation” – Abdoul have as previously been reported been sentenced to several years in jail.
German supermiddle Jurgen Brahmer face another trial, writes Bild Zeitung. Brahmer is accused of assaulting a man in Schwerin in June of 2006. The WBO # 1 is still on probation from his last prison term and another sentence could put him a long way back.
The 16 fighters that will participate in the French version of the Contender have now been announced and include relatively big names such as Morrade Hakkar, Thierry Karl, Pierre Moreno and Denis Saioni. The “Grand Tournoi” begins January 24 with two contests and continues all through the spring and fall with the “Finale de Grand Tornoi” set for December 11, 2008.
The Henry Akinwande-Steve Herelius clash for the vacant EU heavyweight title have been set for February 19. Site tba in France with Gerhard Teysseron?s EuroProm staging the fight.
French welter Issa Hamza defends the WBF title December 14 in Yaound?, Cameroons, against Uruguayan Ruben Francisco Silva Diaz. Hamza is managed by former world champ Thierry Jacob.
HammerKnockout Promotions in Poland promotes in Rzeszow December 15 with lightheavy Dawid Kostecki taking on veteran Mukadi Manda on top. At cruiser former IBF champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk square off against Aloyri Mensah.
IBF I/C heavy champ Oleg Platov defends the title against British veteran Danny Williams on the undercard to Abraham vs Elcock December 8 in Basle.
Henry Akinwande and Steve Herelius will clash for the vacant EU heavyweight title. EuroProm in France promotes the fight with date and site to be announced.
German heavy Timo Hoffmann?s contract with Sauerland Event expires at the end of the year. Timo?s grand stand against Aleksander Dimitrenko didn?t go unnoticed and he is likely to continue his career with a different promoter in Germany.
US-based Polish jr middle Pawel Wolak, 18-0, returns home December 15 and headlines BoxingEurope?s show in Krakow in an International Polish titlefight.
Former WBC lightheavy champ Tomasz Adamek – now at cruiser – could have his next fight December 29 in Bielefeld, Germany, on the undercard to Cunningham vs Huck. Adamek have reportedly split with 12rounds, the Polish promotional company, that handled his comeback fight earlier this year.
Universum?s show in Karlsruhe with Regina Halmich?s farewellbout on top has had some bad luck. First WBO jr middle champ Sergey Dzinziruk?s defence of the title against Lukas Konecny was postponed when the challenger got injured in training, then EBU lightheavy ruler Thomas Ulrich injured his hand forcing a postponement of his fight against Yuri Barashian. Returning from a injury layoff though, earlier than expected, is Russian heavy Dennis Boytsov who face Brazilian Ademar Leonardo Correa while middleweight Khoren Gevor eases back against Gabriel Lecrosnier.
A promotional outfit called “Stars of Professional Boxing” promotes in Lviv, Ukraine, December 12. Welterweight Viktor Plotnikov headlines with lightheavy Vasyl Kondor on the undercard.
Goran Delic and David Blanco clash for the UBO cruiser title December 14 in Banja Luka.
Veteran promoter, matchmaker, agent, matchmaker and advisor Mogens Palle told Danish paper BT the other day that he was near death in Cardiff just before the Calzaghe vs Kessler fight. The main problem was kidney failure. As it was Palle was unable to see the fight even on TV – and according to BT still haven?t seen it. However, for the future the 73-year old veteran with 50 years in boxing gives a hint that the last punch haven?t been thrown. Team Palle?s main star, Mikkel Kessler, is currently resting and healining his injured hand while cruiser Johny Jensen fights EBU champ Vincenzo Cantatore December 14 in Rome. The team as a whole face an uncertain 2008 though with no TV deal at home.
Finland?s Steel Ring, based north of the Pole circle, plans to do four events during 2008 but is faced with the in a way nice problem that its main fighters – for instance 10-0 jr middle Mika Joensuu – is past the six-round level fights and ready to go for bigger things. This also means a bigger budget and if it all comes together is an open question.
Italian heavy Paolo Vidoz returns to action December 21 in Mantova. Opponent is to be announced.