Laszlo Herczeg Goes For WBF World Title Under Fight Production Banner!
08.04 - German management company Fight Production, headed by manager Olaf Schroeder landed yet another signing coup, intended to increase its strong presence on the Hungarian market, when it was revealed that after long negotiations EBU-rated Laszlo Herczeg signed three-year co-management contract prior to his vacant WBF world lightwelterweight title challenge this coming Saturday in London.
Co-promoters Barry Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and Krzysztof Zbarski of Polish Boxing Promotion earlier had announced the inclusion of Herczeg, who will clash with Ted Bami for the crown, but only today Schroeder stepped forward and made public the signing of Herczeg.
The 27-year-old Romano-Hungarian, who was born as Vasile Herteg, turned professional in the summer of 2001 under the guidance of George Racz’ Unio Box Team in Szekszard, Hungary. Over the next 12 months, Herczeg collected 11 straight wins in the pros, before he suffered his first, and to date only, loss to world-rated Italian Guiseppe Lauri. That clash was fought for the WBO Intercontinental lightwelterweight title and Herczeg was retired by his corner because of a severe cut. After two more wins at home in Hungary, Herczeg was bold enough to return to Italy for a fight with highly ranked Michele Delli Paoli, stepping down to lightweight with the IBF Intercontinental championship on the line. This time, there would be no mistake as Herczeg destroyed Delli Paoli in just four rounds (the Italian champion’s first career loss!) to win the belt he still holds. Since then, he further improved his record, which now stands at 15 wins (7 by knockout) with that single injury loss being the only blemish.
“George Racz and myself have been in talks for some months about co-managing Laszlo Herczeg and I’m happy that finally we found a consent,” commented Schroeder. “I’m very exited, because Herczeg is without a doubt a very good fighter and to win the WBF world title on Saturday will be a dream start for our cooperation.”
Promoter Kryzstof Zbarski confirmed that he made a deal with Hungary’s biggest private television channel RTL Klub to televise the fight, giving Herczeg the biggest exposure of his career so far. Also on the card, of course, is another Fight Production / Polish Boxing Promotion top star with world-rated superwelterweight Mihaly Kotai, who clashes over 10 rounds with Darren Rhodes of Leeds. With Zbarski’s company being the driving force behind the renessaince of Hungarian boxing, manager Schroeder is optimistic about his boxers prospects: “Without Polish Boxing Promotion, Mihaly despite his talents would be just another face in the crowd. Instead he is now one of Hungary’s biggest sporting stars and we intend to do a similar job with Herczeg.”
