By Teddy Stenmark
17.10 - Is it vital for a promoter to have a good heavyweight in his/her stable in order to succeed? I would say yes on that question! Heavyweights are the backbone of our sport weather we like it or not. We haven't been spoiled with successful heavyweights in Scandinavia over the years. With the exception of course of Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, who managed to lift the most Prestigious title of them all on Yankee Stadium way back in 1959.
Of recent years Dane Brian Nielsen who is still active (64-2-0 43 KO) has shined brightest of them all. The Danish hero, who surprisingly landed a mega-fight with legendary champion Mike Tyson last year that he lost (TKO 7) but managed to come out off with his peoples respect still intact though, is now getting old (37) and the fighters behind haven't produced what's been expected of them. What's behind Nielsen then? Well not much to brag about to be honest! We have a few talented guys on the way up, but it's to soon to say if they will carry the Johansson/Nielsen tradition on forward.
Let's start with Team Palle, the biggest stable in Scandinavia who has the greatest potential to attract heavyweights. Steffen Nielsen is with out a doubt the most promising of the "Palle-boys"! Unfortunately he was handed a tough loss at the hands of Julius Francis of Britain last time out (KO 6) and now have to rebuild his career. Prior to the Francis-loss he really looked like being on the verge of a break-through. Hard-punching Nielsen took care of such respectable opponents as, Dickie Ryan (W8), Garing Lane (W6) and Belgian Dirk Wallijn (KO1). He now carries the record of 17-1-0, 10 KOs.
The one closest to Nielsen in my opinion is Norwegian Rune Lillebuen who always excites the crowd with his upright style and ferocious punching power. He has the unblemished record of 10-0, 8 KOs but like a lot of talented boxers he has had a few problems with the law, which has prevented him from making the most of his career. Being 32, he hasn't got age on his side either. The most impressive wins on his record came against fellow Scandinavians Mark Hulström (26/5-2000 TKO 2) and Mikael Lindblad (19/4-2002 KO5). In knocking out Lindblad especially, he showed character as he came from behind to score a well-needed knockout.
Behind those two is Johny Jensen (7-0, 4KOs), Tue-Björn Thomsen (22-1-0, 9 KOs, really a super cruiserweight) and newcomer Aldo Colliander of Sweden (1-0, 1KO). Johny Jensen showed some potential by out-pointing, Countryman Jesper Kristiansen in May of this year over six rounds, but hasn't delivered much else. As of Thomsen one should really point out that he isn't suited for the pro-game despite his respectable record of 22-1-0, 9 KOs. Thomsen was a good amateur, (bronze-medal winner at the World championships in Budapest in 1997) and in my opinion he should have stayed amateur. Regarding 24 year old Colliander it's really to soon to tell, but the former two-time Swedish national champion did look good in his only pro-bout so far. Team Vester have two heavyweights, one really promising, the other I am sad to say a disaster. Let's start with the bad one!
Rasmus Iversen, also somewhat of a borderline cruiserweight, is really in everyone's opinion a complete failure as professional. His latest outing ended in a tough first round knockout-loss to Finn Allan Grönfors. Iversen a likeable guy but hopelessly in the wrong business and now has the tarnished record of 8-2-1, 4 KOs. The other one isn't really a genuine Scandinavian!
Richel Hersisia (15-0, 12 KO) who hales from Holland, but one could say that he's been "adopted" by the Danish fans as their own, since he's been featured so many times on the Vester-cards. Even though Hersisia in my opinion been a bit overprotected in his career and carries a few extra kilos around the midsection, he is a fine prospect that could turn into something decent!
Stable number three in Denmark; Modern Sports & Events with promoter Gert Bo Jacobsen also have a few big boys. The most talented, 29-year-old Dane Thomas Sörensen, who sports the unblemished record of 7-0-0, 7 KO: s. He is beautifully built has good power but hasn't so far been handed any opponents of note.
The same could be said about Norwegian heavyweight Henning Steen. He has piled together a record of 4-0, 2 KO: s but the opponents have been more than awful. It remains to be seen what Comes out of him, but don't expect too much!
Swede Johan Thorbjörnson is a nice boxing southpaw from Gothenburg, have A few good qualities but seem to lack the right nerves that are essential in our sport. Thorbjörnson have also been fed the worst kind of opposition. Disposing them all just until recently when he was Handed journeyman Garing Lane from the US, that first gave him a boxing lesson (in Odense in late August) before knocking him out in the fourth round. He will have a difficult time getting over that loss. As of right now he stands with the record of 11-1-0, 6KOs. We have a few Finns that can turn out to be something in the future but all in all nothing to write home about.
Undefeated Allan Grönfors who I mentioned above with the record of 6-0 might be the best of that bunch. I could be wrong! My personal favourite of them all is Aldo Colliander and It's not because I am Swedish!
Send questions/comments to tstenmark@hotmail.com
