(Photo credit: Team Sauerland) There will be no world championship boxing inside the ring this Saturday in Stuttgart, Germany. With WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck (26-2-1, 25 KOs) sidelined due to a hairline fracture in his left elbow and not able to compete in a rematch with Firat Arslan (33-6-2, 21 KOs), the whole fight card is postponed to a later date.
“I am gutted to say the least,” said the 28-year-old titlist who suffered the injury in his final sparring session. “I was in such a good shape and ready to go. Now, my preparation was for nothing.” Huck, being the fighter he is, still tried to make the fight against Arslan happen. “After I went to the doctor on Friday, who said that I cannot compete on September 14, I wanted to get a second opinion. However, on Saturday evening another specialist told me that the damage to my elbow is serious and that I will be out for six to eight weeks.”
Photos: Wende – Patrick Nielsen (20-0, 9 KOs) defended his WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Title and added the WBO Intercontinental belt to his collection by defeating Patrick Majewski (21-2, 13 KOs) in Frederikshavn, Denmark on Saturday night. The 22-year-old knocked down the “Machine” in the fifth with a left to the chin. The judges scored the fight 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109. “This was the best performance of Patrick´s young career,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “He dominated Majewski and showed his superior boxing skills. The future certainly is bright for Patrick.”
Pound-for-pound number one Cecilia Braekhus (22-0, 6 KOs) will defend her WBA, WBC and WBO Female Welterweight Titles against WBO Female Light Middleweight Champion Oxandia Castillo (12-0-2, 9 KOs) at the Nordic Fight Night in Frederikshavn on September 7. Here is the latest from the First Lady prior to the clash of champions.
Juergen Braehmer took another step towards another crack at a world title. On Saturday, the 34-year-old beat Stefano Abatangelo by unanimous decision (119:108, 119:108 and 115:111) in front of a sold-out home crowd at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany. “It was difficult to showcase my skills against Abatangelo as he has an awkward style,” said the light heavyweight contender who defended his European as well as his WBO International Title. “Still it was good for me to get some more rounds under my belt which will definitely help me in my next fight.” Braehmer is the mandatory to WBO Champion Sergey Kovalev.
Fight fans can look forward to a real stacked up card on August 24. With European Light Heavyweight Champion Juergen Braehmer defending his title (against Stefano Abatangelo) and super-middleweight contender Arthur Abraham (against Willbeforce Shihepo) trying to get in position for another world title shot, the show is already loaded with highlights. Now the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin will also play host to a special heavyweight attraction. Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KO´s) and Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KO´s) will fight it out in an IBF final eliminator with the winner to challenge for the world title.
There is some unfinished business between Marco Huck (36-2-1, 25 KOs) and Firat Arslan (33-6-2, 21 KOs). On November 3 of last year the two fighters squared off at the Gerry Weber Stadion in Halle/Westphalia, Germany, for the WBO Cruiserweight World Championship. Back then Huck won a close decision on points. However, Arslan saw himself ahead after the full twelve rounds.