by James Slater — They clash on Friday night, and tough old warriors Sinan Samil Sam of Turkey and Paolo Vidoz of Italy will be fighting for the vacant EBU European heavyweight title. Both men have previously held the title and are now looking to regain it. Who will win the bout taking place in Ankara, Turkey?
Sam, who now lives in Hamburg, Germany must start out favourite. Tank-like, experienced and the younger man by three years at age 34, Sam has been in with some top heavyweight names in his time – beating a couple. And while Vidoz has arguably boxed even better opposition, almost every time the Italian has stepped up he has been beaten – and sometimes stopped at that. Sam, possessing a genuinely strong chin along with true grit, has never been, and possibly never will be, stopped in any fight. This could well make the difference on Friday. Sam is simply the tougher man. No, he is far from a great fighter, but his resolve when it comes to taking a punch has to be recognised.
Wins over Britain’s Danny Williams – in what is likely Sam’s career-best showing thus far – and Lawrence Clay Bey are good results for the Turkish hard man, and he has won his last three bouts. Vidoz, who has been stopped by Nikolay Valuev and Vladimir Virches, also has a decent win over a British heavyweight. Out-pointing Michael Sprott in defence of the EBU title he’d previously won with a points win over Timo Hoffman, Vidoz eventually lost his belt when he was stopped in six rounds by Virches (losing to Virches in a rematch on points also). Now he’s looking to regain it in his fight against Sam, courtesy of Virches having vacated the title.
Sam has been guilty of putting on too much weight in recent fights. Weighing as low as 239 pounds for a 2006 bout, Sam weighed-in at a whopping 257 for his latest fight – a win over one Ratko Draskovic this past March. Vidoz, who just lately has always come in at around the 240 pound mark, may be the fighter in better overall condition.
The fight could be a lively affair. Most of Sam’s fights are good to watch, and the Turk is not afraid to let his hands go in there as he marches incessantly forwards. Neither guy is what you would call a monster puncher, with 14 KO’s for the Italian (25 wins and 4 losses) and 16 KO’s for Sam (with 30 wins and also 4 losses). But both men can bang a little.
Look for Sam, who lost his WBC international title via a decision to Oliver McCall last June, to bounce back by regaining his old EBU belt. I go for Sam on points in a good, honest battle.