Boxing News: Brähmer Out; Ulrich vs Dollinger, Erdei-Barashian

02.01.09 – Light heavyweight contender Jürgen Brähmer’s January 17th clash with Rubin “Mr. Hollywood” Williams in Dusseldorf has fallen through after Brähmer suffered a cut to his head in a New Year’s Eve accident..

While attending a midnight fireworks show and his girlfriend Tatjana in Schwerin, Brähmer was struck by some shattered glass. He spent the first few minutes of the new year in the hospital where he received six stitches on the hairline. “I’m happy that nothing happened to my girfriend,” he said. “Tatjana stood right next to me. I must now must miss a week’s training before they remove the stitches. This is very annoying. I couldn’t celebrate Christmas or New Year’s Eve because I trained right through, but I think that I can return to the ring in the near future.”

Thomas Ulrich will return to the ring in Magdeburg against the unbeaten Armin Dollinger

World champion Zsolt Erdei defends his WBO light heavyweight belt in Magdeburg against Yuri Barashian (Live on ZDF from 10.00 pm)

WBO world champion Denis Inkin faces his stable mate Karoly Balzsay in a fight for his WBO super middleweight belt

European champion Thomas Ulrich will be back in action in the boxing hotbed of Magdbeurg in his first fight of 2009. Now compaigning at cruiserweight the 33 year old from berlin will feature in a 8 rounder against the unbeaten Armin Dollinger (19-0-0 (8)) of Munich. After his defeat in the fight for the European crown in February 2008 against Yuri Barashian, who will face Zsolt Erdei in a world title bout in Magdeburg, and a break due to a cut injury suffered in training, Thomas Ulrich (31-4-0 (21)) is now ready and highly motivated. Trained by Ralf Rocchigiani he wants to demonstrate his boxing skills. Armin Dollinger, also known as the „Hirschenwirt“ of Munich, remains unbeaten and extended his winning streak by defeating Kai Kurzawa by knockout in round 2 in his last bout. He will certainly be a tough challenge for Ulrich.

In the center of attention is the WBO world champion Zsolt „Firebird“ Erdei (29-0, 17 KO), who will defend his light heavyweight belt the Magdeburger Bördelandhalle. The opponent of the hungarian „Firebird“, who lives and trains in Hamburg land fights under the Universum Box-Promotion banner, is the tough Ukrainian Yuri Barashian (25-4, 17 KO). In his last fight by headlining the „Universum Champions Night“ in Dresden in April 2008 against the US-American DeAndrey Abron, the world champion Erdei thrilled the audience with a clear decision win. Even some fans made their way from the closeby homeland of Hungary to support his fighter and local hero Erdei.

With former European champion Yuri Barashian, who lost the fight for the vacant WBA title in June 2008 against Hugo Hernan Garay and previously had beaten Universum fighter Thomas Ulrich in February 2008 for the European crown by knockout in round 8, the reigning world champion Erdei will have a tough battle in his 11th title defense.

In the second world championship clash of the night WBO super middleweight world champion Denis Inkin (34-0, 24 KOs) faces his stall colleague and WBO #1 rated Karoly Balzsay (19-0, 14 KOs). This eagerly awaited duel between the two unbeatens was originally slated as an interim championship bout at the end of September, but had to be cancelled after Balzsay suffered a cut in training. Inkin defeated replacement opponent Fulgencio Zuniga for the full WBO champion after reigning champion Joe Calzaghe stepped down.

This bout has added intrigue as Universum trainers Fritz Sdunek and Magomed Schaburow will be in opposite corners.

Tickets for this „Universum Champions Night“ are still available at
Ticket Shop Magdeburg: +49391-533 480
Karstadt Magdeburg: +49391-59 59 103
Universum Ticket Hotline: +4940-696 559 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +491805-5 70 000 or www.boxing.de

No holiday for the world champions Zsolt Erdei and Denis Inkin

„Universum Champions Night“, January 10th, 2009 in the Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg (Germany)

While most the world is enjoying the year end holidays, it’s business as usual in Hamburg’s famous Universum Gym. In preparation for the first “Universum Champions Night” of 2009, WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (29-0, 17 KOs) with his trainer Fritz Sdunek, and WBO super middleweight champion Denis Inkin (34-0, 24 KOs) with his trainer Magomed Schaburow are in the midst of the last and most intense phase of sparring.

“While the others celebrate, dancing and drinking, we still need to work hard – this was not Christmas,” said Erdei. The two world champions will continue to train in Hamburg until Friday, before heading to Magdeburg for the January 10th world title twinbill at the Bördelandhalle.

Longtime titleholder Zsolt Erdei defends against former European champion Yuri Barashian (25-4, 17 KOs) while Denis Inkin makes his first title defense facing stablemate Karoly Balzsay (19-0, 14 KOs). This bout has added intrigue as Universum trainers Sdunek and Schaburow will be in opposite corners.