Erdei vs Mendoza, Hill v Arslan This Saturday

“Universum Champions Night” will land at the new Freiberger Arena in the historic city of Dresden for the first time on November 24th for the big world title twinbill featuring WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei and the long awaited cruiserweight between WBA cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill and interim champion Firat Arslan..

Unbeaten WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (27-0, 17 KOs) will face WBO #13 Tito Mendoza (36-7, 28 KOs) in his ninth title defense. Mendoza stands 6’3 and punches hard as his record confirms.”Firebird” Zsolt Erdei will be making the ninth defense of his world title belt. In his last fight, at the „Universum Champions Night“ in June in Budapest, world champion Erdei delivered a fine performance against the US-American Georges Blades and scored his eight successful title defence.

„I’m feeling honored to have my fight here in Dresden. It is a lovely city. My preparation for this fight was great. The boxing fans in Dresden can expect a great fight and the better boxer deserves to win“, the reigning world champion Erdei states at today’s press conference.

Also his coach Fritz Sdunek is happy to be in the capital of Saxony: „Finally I’m back here in Dresden. We have a great programm planned for this night. Zsolt has adapted the new situation in sparring perfectly, fighting against a taller opponent like Tito Mendoza!“

„I want to thank God and Universum for this chance to fight for the world championship belt. I came here to defeat the champion Zsolt Erdei and do my job. I have prepared myself in the USA and watched and studied many DVD’s with fights of Erdei to get ready for this challenge”, Mendoza said.

Firat Arslan (27-3-1, 18 KOs) has waited long and patiently for his crack at the full WBA belt. Virgil Hill, 43-year-old multiple-time champion with Hall of Fame credentials, regained the title in January 2006. He met Maske in a March “show fight,” but has not defended the title until now. Despite losing a purse bid in September, Universum has managed to get Arlan the home advantage in Germany.

WBA cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill (50-5, 23 KOs) was not in good humor at Monday’s press conference in Dresden, Germany. Hill will face interim champion Firat Arslan (27-3-1, 18 KOs) in his long overdue mandatory defense. “I am deeply disappointed that I am not on the fight poster,” said Hill. “Universum has made a mistake. I have never been treated like this, but nevertheless I am ready to fight. I apologize to the media and Firat Arslan…” finished Hill before storming out of the Grand Café & Restaurant Coselpalais.

Arslan stated “Virgil Hill is a great champion whom I respect very much. I believe in my chances and want my big dream to become a world champion to come true. I want to win.”

His trainer Michael Timm added, “Firat Arslan has earned this chance. He is a great worker and has trained hard as usual. On Saturday he will fight up to the last minute to make his big dream come true.”

A further title fight on the card will feature WBA/WBO #1 super middleweight Denis Inkin (31-0, 24 KOs) against Martin Abel Bruer (19-1, 12 KOs) in a bout for Inkin’s WBC International belt.

Other title fights include the unbeaten Karoly Balzsay (16-0-0 (12)) for the WBO-Interconti championship at super middlweight against the Argentinean Ruben Eduardo Acosta (16-2-5 (3)) and Nehomar Cermano (13-0-0 (8)) of Venezuela, who faces the experienced Mexican Marino Montiel (30-10-1 (16)) for the WBA Fedelatin belt at Bantamweight.

The boxing fans in Dresden will also see local hero Kirsten Schöning, who will be challenged by the Russian Evgenia Zablotskaja at jr. flyweight.

The spotlight boxing talents Zsolt Bedak (7-0-0 (2)) at jr. featherweight and Marcel Meyerdiercks (featherweight) are also on the fightcard in seperate bouts.

Two other fights including female boxers are jr. bantamweight Carolina Alvarez and featherweight Ambar Fajardo, both from Venezuela.

Tickets for the „Universum Champions Night“ in Dresden are bookable under:
Universum Ticket Hotline: +49 40-696 559 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +49 1805-5 70 000
Konzertkasse im Floretinum: +49 351-86 66 010
Touristinformation Dresden: +49 351-491 922 33
or www.boxing.de