When Team Vester, in cooperation with Risum Boxing, promotes at the NRGI Arena in Aarhus, Denmark on April 4 it will be with a real pick-em fight as top of the bill. Former IBF world title challenger Allan Vester will take on reigning African welterweight champion Hasan “The Hitman” Saku from Uganda, who these days resides in Stockholm, Sweden and occupies the # 19 spot in the WBC world rankings..
It will be an excellent opportunity for the Dane to take a considerable step back towards the world elite by capturing Saku´s world rating, but a defeat would almost certainly also crush any hopes of Vester getting back in contention for the big fights he craves. His back will be against the wall on April 4th, and he knows he has to be on top of his game to beat the strong African.
Southpaw Hasan Saku has earned his ring moniker, “The Hitman”, by stopping eight of his nine victims so far (against two defeats). He made his professional debut in 2004, and already the following year he won the Ugandan national middleweight title, and the East and Central African title at the same weight.
He has since moved down to welter, and in December of last year he captured the African title by stopping Tanzanian Bagaza Mwambene in the third round. His two defeats were against Russian prospect Anton Solopov and a controversial four-round decision versus tough Latvian Jurijs Borejko.
“Allan personally insisted on getting a big challenge and a tough opponent on April 4, and in Saku we can certainly say that his wish has been granted. Hasan hits extremely hard and is very strong, but Allan has a fair chance to beat him with his excellent technique.”
“Style-wise this is perfect match-up, the puncher against the boxer, and I think its admirable that Allan is willing to risk everything in his quest to return to the world rankings. But it certainly wont be an easy fight, and I have a feeling it could go either way”, says the shows matchmaker Henrik Risum.
Both Vester and Saku will have a tune-up for their encounter with bouts in late March. Vester takes on an opponent yet to be announced in Sweden on the 27th, while Saku squares off with Albert Starikov on the 22nd in Estonia.
The Aarhus bill will also feature one of Denmark’s brightest prospects, super featherweight Kim Poulsen, and local super middleweight Fawaz Nasir as well as at least one more professional fight, amateur bouts, Kickboxing and performances by some of the countries leading rap performers.
Tickets can be purchased via www.billetnet.dk and www.vester-boxing.dk