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The Bull versus "Smoking" Joe! Heavyweight Explosion in Helsinki!

22.08 - In reality there is only one "real" Smoking Joe. Joe Frazier of course! But it is common knowledge, that when someone invents a nickname, it is not going to be used only once. Sugar Ray Robinson had his nickname "stolen" by Ray Leonard, Ray Seales, Shane Mosley and numerous other unknown fighters. Well, that of Joe Frazier has been borrowed by Kenyan and African heavyweight champion Joseph Akhasamba, AKA "Smoking" Joe.

Akhasamba travels all the way from Nairobi to Helsinki next month, to take on local heavyweight prospect Sami "The Bull" Elovaara on September 14th at something called the Kiisahali in the capitol of Finland. "Smoking" Joe, who has actually never smoked a cigarette or anything else in his life, brings a record of 10 wins, 3 losses and one draw - 7 wins coming by way of knockout, while Elovaara has only lost once in twelve contests (11-1, 7 Ko´s). The only blemish on his record was due to a cut, in a fight he was leading on the scorecards.

Joseph Akhasamba is a veteran of five titlefights, and two Olympics. In the 1992 games in Barcelona, he lost to recent world title challenger Kirk Johnson from Canada. He has held the Kenyan national title for almost five years now, and the African belt since 1998. In May of 2000, he won the vacant WBB "World" title, dominating Germany's Rene Hanl over twelve one-sided rounds. He lost that crown on points last year to another German, former WBO world title challenger Willy Fischer in Offenbach. His only two other losses also came abroad, when he lost two decisions to former WBO # 3 Jesper Kristiansen in Denmark.

Compared to his African foe, Elovaara is a relative novice in the game. Despite over 100 amateur fights and twelve pro outings, he hasn't campaigned against anything nearly as seasoned and experienced as Akhasamba. He has showed some really good form though, beating countrymen Juukka Jarvinen, (Ko3 in Elovaara´s second fight), and Jari Markannen (W6) last year. He also
stopped tough Pole Piotr Jurczyk in the second round, something it took Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison the same time to do in much less spectacular fashion.

Pro boxing in Finland has been in a slump for a while, but it looks like it is seriously picking up now. On more than a regular basis, you see cards with cheap Russians and East Europeans as opponents for the local heroes. But young promoter Kaitsu Vuorio has decided to go another route on September 14, and now boxing fans on those parts will be in for what looks like the most interesting international fight in Finland in many years. And when the heavyweights take center stage, you could be looking at an explosion.

Elovaara is stepping up in class, and Akhasamba will come out smoking and try to rebound after that defeat to Willy Fischer. The undercard will also consist of Finland versus Kenya, but no opponents has been announced yet for Kai Kauramäki, 7-3 (2), Anssi Perajoki, 4-0 (2), Allan Grønfors, 4-0 (2), Petri Reima, 3-0 (2) and Mathias Klockars, 3-0 (1).

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