Michel Trabant v Thomas Damgaard for the WBA title?

By Teddy Stenmark

18.03 - It looks like Danish welterweight-ace Thomas Damgaard (32-0) could be headed for a fight for the vacant WBA World title against undefeated German and European champion Michel Trabant (38-0). The strong Dane who turns 32 this year have enjoyed a spotless career that has brought him the European title at both juniorwelter and welter as well as the slightly less prestigious IBC (World) WBA International titles. Team Palle and Trabant's promoter, Universum Box Promotions has a deadline, 5th of April to come to an agreement about where the bout will take place, after that it will go to the purse-offer.

Damgaard was, initially booked to fight American Jose Antonio Rivera for the title but the WBA has now decided that the hard-punching German will be Damgaard's opponent for their World title belt.

Trabant known for his beautiful upright style and tremendously good jab and the fact that he turned pro just 16 years old way back in 1995, is in for probably his career's toughest challenge. The skilful German has tasted Danish power before, but come out victorious though. He went twelve tough rounds with Damgaard's countryman, Christian Bladt to win the European title in Gdansk, Poland, last year. Trabant had no problems defeating the strong but in comparison with him self, sort of limited Dane. To consider Damgaard a more difficult task than Bladt is obviously something Trabant has to prepare himself mentally for. The Two Danes have not much in common except for their passports.

While Bladt sometimes is a cautious boxer, Damgaard is everything but cautious. He attacks from the very first minute in every round and always comes to his bouts 100 % fit. Very few boxers in the World can handle his constant pressure, Khalid Rahilou, Luis Maysonet and Greg Haugen among others can testify to that. Damgaard ranked, #3 the World by "Ring Magazine" and now probably considered by most experts as a few notches a head of Trabant, looks like the favourite beforehand but still the bout is an uncertain affair that could end either way.

While Trabant had a promising amateur career that brought him the Nations junior title as his best merit (He would probably have reached a lot further if he hadn't turned pro at such an early age) Damgaard stayed longer in the unpaid ranks and was truly tested at top-international level at junior as well as senior-level.

The stocky Dane competed at the World junior championship in Puerto Rico in 1989, the European Championships in Gothenburg in 1991 and the same tournament in his country Denmark, Vejle, in 1996. He also tried his luck at the 1995 Berlin and 1997 Budapest World championships. Although never reaching a medal position at these tournaments he always performed well and the valuable experience picked up at those a high level-tournaments could be the key for him. All in all he had 191 amateur bouts winning 161. Experience and guts could take him trough this fight. Trabant, on the other hand has to rely on his superb boxing skills to succeed. It is a beautiful match-up and it will spice up the evening for anyone who will be fortunate enough to promote it. That remains to be seen of course!