15.06.07 – photos: J.A. Treptow -WBC President Jose Sulaiman arrived in Ankara last night to witness the „Bull Fight” between “The Bull from Bosporus” Sinan Samil Sam and “The Atomic Bull” Oliver McCall. And he brought a special “present” for the fighters with him to Turkey. Sulaiman promised that the winner of the bout will get a shot on the World Championship after reigning Champion Oleg Maskaev, mandatory challenger Samuel Peter and “champion emeritus” Vitali Klitschko have sorted out who will be the man to beat..
Sulaiman: “I truly believe that Sinan Samil Sam is one of the best heavyweights in the world today. Oliver McCall is a strong opponent but Sinan has proved that he has an above average chin. The only thing he might be lacking is the mental power. But if he is self-confident enough to beat McCall he can become World Champion as well.”
arena-CEO Ahmet Öner: “It is a great honour for us and for the Turkish people that Mr. President visits our event here in Ankara. It shows the meaning of this fight and is increasingly important for the development of professional boxing in Turkey.” Jose Sulaiman and Ahmet Öner were invited to talks by the mayor of the city of Ankara as well as members of the Turkish government.
Also on the card in Atatürk SporSalonu is Juan Carlos Gomez who will fight against Russian Dennis Bakhtov for the PABA Heavyweight Championship. If the Cuban who converted to Islam beats Bakhtov convincingly he has great perspectives for getting a title shot at either WBA or WBO.
WBC-President Sulaiman: “I know Juan very well from the time when he was WBC Cruiserweight Champion. He is one of the most talented boxers of our time. I am convinced that if he is able to focus on training and fighting he can beat every heavyweight in the world today.”
Manager Ahmet Öner would love to see Gomez in a WBA eliminator with Nikolai Valuev to become the mandatory challenger for World Champion Ruslan Chagaev. But new WBO Champion Sultan Ibragimov seems to be interested in fighting Gomez as well…
Official weights from Ankara
221.8 kg (489 lbs.) clash in the “Bull Fight“ in Ankara on Saturday. At the official weigh-in on Friday in front of ARMADA shopping centre in Ankara WBC International Champion Sinan Samil Sam came in at 114.8 kg (253 lbs.) while challenger Oliver McCall weighed in at 107 kg (236 lbs.).
Sinan Samil Sam 114.8 kg / 253 lbs
Oliver McCall 107 kg / 236 lbs
Juan Carlos Gomez 100.9 kg / 222.5 lbs
Dennis Bakhtov 102.3 kg / 225.5 lbs
Odlanier Solis 114.3 kg / 252 lbs
Alex Mazikin 114 kg / 251.5 lbs
Steffen Kretschmann 106.5 kg / 235 lbs
Edgar Kalnars 100 kg / 220.5 lbs
Konstantin Airich 100 kg / 220.5 lbs
Adnan Serin 97.1 kg / 214 lbs
Mustafa Karagöllü 70 kg / 154.5 lbs
Patrik Hruska 70.5 kg / 155.5 lbs
Selcuk Aydin 66.6 kg / 147 lbs
Yury Tsybenko 67 kg / 147.5 lbs
Yuriorkis Gamboa 66 kg / 145.5 lbs
Araik Sachbazjan 60 kg / 132.5 lbs
Herbie Hide 91.4 kg / 201.5 lbs
Aleh Dubiaha 91 kg / 200.5 lbs
Yan Barthelemy 55 kg / 121.5 lbs
Gennadiy Delisandru 55 kg / 121.5 lbs