21.12.06 – By Per Ake Persson: Amin Asikainen´s defence of the EBU middleweight title against German Sebastian Sylvester will now go ahead March 3 at the Town Hall in Rostock – which was the original date planned by Sauerland Event. As the fight went to purse bids, won by Sauerland with a huge bid, the Finnish team, headed by Pekka Maeki, protested and insisted on that Sauerland, as the rules call for, stage the fight inside 60 days of the purse bid date..
Sauerland then moved Asikainen vs Sylvester to the Valuev vs McCline show in Basel January 20 but at the same time had Sylvester defending the WBA I/C title December 16. Sebastian did, and won but suffered a hand injury that will keep him out for six weeks. However, the story doesn´t end there: it could be that we will see Asikainen in a voluntary defence in January in Helsinki..
Italian jr middle Salvatore Annunziata retained the IBF Youth title last night (Dec 21) in San Severo with a unanimous decision over Serbian Vuk Mitic. It was scored 96-93 on two cards and 97-93.
New Sweden Boxing Promotion´s show at the big Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg January 27 billed as “the Return” will be televised by TV 4+. The plan is still to have ten fights over either 4×3 or 6×2. Bjorn Rosengren, head of the professional boxing commission, went on record saying that former WBO middle titleholder Armand Krajnc might still be able to fight if he came in with the German license he previously had. Earlier, the one of boxing commission´s doctors, Sanna Neselius, stated that Krajnc would be unable to get a Swedish license based on his previous medical history. Reports in local media that Armand would promote his own show in Malmo later in 2007 are apparently not true. It´s rumored that either Bruce Seldon or Ray Mercer, could be on their way to Gothenburg and face Aldo Colliander over four three minute rounds. Confirmed on the bill are female supermiddle Aasa Sandell, comebacking heavies Mikael Lindblad and Johan Thorbjornsson, welter Benjamin Kalinovic, debutants Richard Lundby and Daniel Hartwig. Lightheavy Giovanni Alvarez have also been announced as on for the show. American heavy Joe Abbell, part Swedish, from what once was “new Sweden”, Minnesota, USA, round out the bill. US agent for New Sweden is the legendary Don Elbaum.
IBF middle champ Arthur Abraham have been named German Fighter of the Year by the readers of tradepaper BoxSport. Sauerland Event´s head coach Ulli Wegner was named Trainer of the Year.
Fabian Weber, former webmaster and PR man for Universum, have now reached a settlement with his former employer.