27.06.06 – By Per Ake Persson: Heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev takes on Brit Michel Sprott on Universum´s big show in Hamburg July 15, which is topped by WBA 160 lb champ Felix Sturm´s defence against Javier Castillejo. The event takes place at the huge Color Line Arena but ticket sales are reportedly slow – which is put down to the German success in the World Cup in football.
Universum´s sidekick Spotlight Boxing have moved their scheduled July 25 show from the Universum gym to the Sachsenwald Sportschool (also in Hamburg), which is in danger of being shut down. Both Spotlight and Universum have in the past used the venue for training camps and want to show their support. Headlining the show are cruisers Grigorz Drozd and Pavel Melkomian in a WBC Int´l titlefight.
German middles Dirk Dzemski and Mahir Oral could clash for the vacant EU title September 9.
Heavyweight Axel Schulz, currently in training in Florida, has his comeback tentatively scheduled for late November in Germany with RTL televising. Schulz was last seen getting stopped by Wladimir Klitschko back in 99.
Italian jr middle Sven Paris knocked out Rafael Romero in the second June 25 in Santo Domingo.
Steel Ring Promotions of from Northern Finland have two shows scheduled for September. On the 2nd they are in Oulu with Norwegian superbantam Reidar Walstad in a six-round headliner. Also on the bill are Mika Joensuu and Harri Okkonen with a fourth fighter – a newcomer to be announced in July – added. On the 24th Steel Ring are in Yliharma with local hero Juho Haapoja on top and with Swedish superbantam Karl Larsson-Jones and Jarno Ruotsalainen, a debutant, on the undercard. There´s a third show in the works for later in the fall.
Austrian jr middle Gotthard Hinteregger stopped as previously reported Gogi Knezevic in the fourth to win the national title June 25 in Velden. Behind it you find quite a story. Knezevic had won the first three rounds but came out for the fourth without his mouthpiece – a bad mistake by his cornermen. Hinteregger can punch a bit and Knezovic had tooth knocked out of position. When they tried to replace the mouthpiece it didn´t fit due the dislodged tooth. Knezovic then said something like “I can´t continue like this” and the referee interepreted it as if he retired and stopped the fight.
Latvian heavy Edgar Kalnars and lightheavy Andreas Kempe, in his first six-rounder, headline the next Friday Night Fight show at the Blue Box in Potsdam July 14.