20.10.05 – By Joe Harrison: As we head into the holiday season of 2005, boxing fans will be provided with a full schedule of mega fights and title defenses. While the popular names such as Klitschko, Hatton, and Hopkins await their big fights, we should also keep our eyes on some of the other talented fighters in the world of professional boxing..
For instance, Vitali Tsypko will defend his European super middleweight championship against Jackson Chanet in Saint Dizier, France on November 18th. Tsypko (16-0, 9 KO’s) won the vacant European title on July 16th by scoring a split decision over Brian Magee. Tsypko’s toughest opponent was Jeff Lacy back on June 5th of last year. Unfortunately, the fight was declared a no contest during the 2nd round due to a cut caused by a head butt. Although Lacy went onto win the IBF championship, Tsypko is currently ranked 3rd by the IBF, and is closing in on a shot at the IBF title. But of course, he still has to get past Jackson Chanet (25-0, 15 KO’s) next.
In Paris, France, on December 5th, former WBA cruiserweight champion Fabrice Tiozzo will make his 2nd defense of the WBA light heavyweight championship against Paul Murdoch (24-5-1, 15 KO’s). Tiazzo (47-2, 31 KO’s) defended his cruiserweight title successfully 4 times before being destroyed by Virgil Hill in a first round TKO back in December of 2000. In April of last year, Tiazzo won the WBA light heavyweight title by scoring a majority decision over Silvio Branco. Last time he fought, he defeated Dariusz Michalczewski by 6th round TKO.
Recently, close sources claimed that Juan Manuel Marquez may be scheduled to fight Chris John for the WBA featherweight championship on December 10th. Marquez (44-2-1, 33 KO’s), who unified the WBA and IBF titles back in 2003, was stripped by the IBF in August for not making his mandatory defense against obscure Thai boxer Phafrakorb Rakkiatgym. Stripping Marquez of the IBF title caused the WBA to withdraw its recognition of Marquez as a “super champion.” However, it appears that the WBA made Marquez the mandatory challenger for WBA “regular” featherweight titlist Chris John. Chris John (36-0-1, 20 KO’s) won his WBA title when he defeated Oscar Leon by split decision in September of 2003. He has defended the title successfully 4 times, but has never been in the ring with anyone quite as talented as Juan Manual Marquez.