The prefight press conference was held Monday in Dresden for Saturday’s big “Universum Champions Night” world title twinbill at the Freiberger Arena featuring the WBO light heavyweight world title fight between champion Zsolt Erdei (28-0, 17 KOs) and #4 rated DeAndrey Abron (15-1, 10 KOs) and the WBO junior middleweight world title clash between champion Sergiy Dzinziruk (34-0, 22 KOs) and #2 rated Lukas Konecny (36-2, 18 KOs)..
“Dresden is a wonderful town,” commented Erdei. “It was a great experience to box here in November of last year. We like Dresden. I’m a little superstitious and because the town brought me luck with my last victory, I’m glad to be here again. The fight with Mendoza was a little bit boring because he only boxed in the reverse gear. Abron is 6’3, again a physically big opponent, but luckily for me he’s an offensive fighter. I have no problem with bigger boxers. I’m the quickest boxer in my weight class and if, as they say, the better boxer wins, that’s me! For the Dresden fans I promise a spectacular fight.”
“This is my most important fight,” countered Abron. “I earned this chance for the world title with with hard fights in the USA. I have a lot of respect for Zsolt Erdei, because he has already defended his title nine times as a world champion. This speaks for a great champion. With my coach Trevor Wittman, we had a hard training camp in the Rocky Mountains, preparing very intensely with long mountain runs and hard sparring. The size difference won’t play a big role since we know the strengths of Erdei. I will with certainty provide the German boxing fans with a good fight and a good show. We will win!”
Dzinziruk (34-0, 22 KOs) wasn’t present as he is training until Wednesday with coach Michael Timm in Hamburg, so Konecny had the media all to himself. “Something postitive about the two postponements is I was able to train in Magdeburg and now live in Usti, close to Dresden and my Czech fans only have a short way to go,” stated Konecny. “Also I’m in the best physical condition I ever been in. Absolutely top fit, and I will take advantage of my opportunity. Sergiy Dzinziruk really is a super technician and one of the best boxers in my weight class, however this is the biggest fight of my career and I’m going to surprise him.”
The undercard features two WBO title bouts will feature WBO Intercontinental titlist Karoly Balzsay (17-0, 12 KOs) of Hungary, currently #7 WBO rankings at super middleweight and the jr. welterweight Willy Blain (18-0, 3 KOs), #1 WBO contender and ready for a shot at the world title.
Universum fighter Karoly Balzsay, who is coached by Fritz Sdunek and lives in Hamburg, will face Mantas Tarvydas (15-2, 10 KOs) of Lithuania in his WBO title defence. With this fight he wants to climb in the super middleweight rankings and get closer to a possible shot at one of the world title belts.
The Frenchman Willy “Small Leonard” Blain out of the Spotlight Boxing team in Hamburg is much closer to a world title fight. As the reigning WBO Intercontinental champion and # 1 of the WBO rankings he will be challenged by the #12 rated Indonesian and well experienced contender Daudy “The Bali Boy” Bahari (36-1-1, 13 KOs).
Alongside of these two world title fights, the 22 year old heavyweight prospect Denis Boytsov (20-0, 18 KOs), will also be in action at the Freiberger Arena. He will face Robert Hawkins (23-10, 7 KOs) from Philadelphia.
Also in action in Dresdenis another Hungarian fighter. Bantamweight Zsolt Bedak (9-0-0 (2)) will be challenged by the Mexican Jorge Cardenas (9-4-4 (6)).
Another fight for local favorite Kirstin Schönig (8-5-0 (3)), who will have her second appearance at this year’s „Universum Champions Night“ wieder. The junior flyweight will come up against the Russian Evgenia Zablotskaja (0-3-0 (0)).
Tickets for this „Universum Champions Night“ are still available:
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 at www.boxing.de
Firat Arslan Ready For Darnell Wilson
A dream came true for WBA world champion Firat Arslan after years of hard work when he dethroned the boxing legend Virgil Hill in November 2007 in Dresden and claimed the WBA belt. The world champion, who comes from the swabian town named Süssen nearby Stuttgart, had to wait for years for this chance to fight for a world title.
In addition to his intensive training program and hard sparring, Arslan has added an amazing new conditioning triumph to his repertoire: a grueling 680-step run up the ski jump in Stans, Tirol, Austria, a feat reminiscent of film hero Rocky Balboa’s inspiring run up front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia (which by the way is only 72 steps).
Arslan (28-3-1, 18 KOs) is currently training in the Austrian ski village of Sölden under the guidance of his coach Valentine Silaghi. He previously trained here for his title winning fight against Virgil Hill and plans to remain in the high-altitude camp until April 27th.
The champion will need to be in top condition on May 3rd when he defends his title in front of his adoring home fans at the Hanns Martin Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart, against the uncompromising aggressions of power-puncher Darnell “The Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson (23-6-3, 20 KOs) .
Arslan has already taken exception to the Ding-a-ling Man’s motto of ‘I hit you. I’ll ring your bell. I’ll knock you out!’ saying “If he sees boxing as so easy, then he will have a tough time of it with me – when he meets me, I will put him away. I am prepared very well for Wilson. Currently I’m in the middle of intensive sparring and will give the right answers in the ring.”