19.07.07 – By Per-Åke Persson: Former WBA heavy champ Nikolai Valuev will return September 29 and it could be in a EBU titlefight against Vladimir Virchis. The fight have July 30 as deadline for purse bids or agreement. Virchis´ manager Oleg Hug wants his man to be moved towards a world title but the question is what the promoter, Universum, says. The powerful and strong Ukrainian must be in with a good chance against the giant Russian.
IBF supermiddle champ Alejandro Berrio could be defending the title in September / October against his mandatory challenger, Canada-based Romanian Lucian Bute. However the managerial problems that have surrounded Berrio since he won the vacant title against Robert Stieglitz still linger and it appears uncertain on who can do what in the team.
Italian Simone Maludrottu will defend the EBU bantam title against Frenchman Mohamed Boulegchga August 3 in Sardinia – exactly where will be announced soon.. Maludrottu was first set to make a defence against Belgian Carmelo Ballone but that fight was postponed twice with no new date set.
EU 168 lb ruler Lolenga Mock have a new mandatory challenger in Dane Mads Larsen. If the fights comes off depends of course on how their respective fights in August ends. Mock fights Stepjan Bozic (for the vacant WBA I/C title – the EU title is not at stake) in Croatia August 2 while Larsen is on the Abraham vs Gevor bill August 18. Mock and Larsen resides relatively close to each other in the Aarhus region but while Lolenga is promoted by Team Palle Mads is with Sauerland Event.
Spanish jr middle Ruben Varon is sidelined with hand injury and the planned fight against EU champ Christophe Canclaux August 18 in Berlin is off. Canclaux´s mandatory challenger is now Czech Lukas Konecny.
Antonio Di Feto and Dejan Ribac clash for the WBC Mediterranean supermiddle July 27 in San Paolo Cividate.