By Per Ake Persson: There are already talks of newly crowned WBA lightheavy champ Gabriel Campillo defending the title against a Universum fighter, most likely Jurgen Brahmer.
Vitali Klitschko vs Nikolai Valuev? Well, first WBA mandatory contender John Ruiz must be out of the way… either by defeat in the ring or by a hefty step-aside fee..
Coming up is a busy and important weekend for Arena Box Promotion: On Friday in Volklingen German heavy Steffen Kretschmann faces experienced Russian Dennis Bahktov on an Arena show and on Saturday Mahir Oral is in against IBF middleweight king Arthur Abraham. Kretschmann should be able to get past Bahktov while Oral is a big underdog against Abraham.
In regards of Arthur Abraham tablod Bild Zeitung wrote yesterday that the fight on Saturday would be “King” Arthur´s last at middle. However, this is not really correct and depends on how Abraham can make the weight. There have been problems for a long time even though Arthur is reported to have been on a diet for a month now. A fight against Kelly Pavlik has been mentioned. Should Abraham move up to supermiddle there are several good fights ahead.
Pole Rafael Jackiewicz could be the one for WBA welter champ Vyacheslav Senchenko. Jackiewicz, who relinquished the EBU title recently, is also looking into a IBF eliminator against either Mexican Jesus Soto Karass or Slovenian Jan Zaveck.
Danish media reports that the promotional and managerial dispute between Team Palle and WBA supermiddle king Mikkel Kessler is getting worse. Mogens Palle tells papers that a fight with mandatory challenger Gusmyl Perdomo can be made in September or early October. An attorney representing Kessler says a fight then is out of date as the contract – that already is questioned – is then said to have expired. Palle on his side insists on three options excluding mandatory defences.
The “Ingo the Champ” memorial show September 4 in Karlstad, Sweden, feature heavyweights Attila Levin and Joey Abell on top – but not against each other and Anna Ingman in a defence of the WPBF title (over six two minute rounds). On the undercard Dane Allan Vester and Norwegian Reidar Walstad both appear – the last fight for both was on last year´s show in Karlstad. Swedish talents Richard Lundby and Cliff Soukka also appear. Guest referee will be Steve Smoger, who´s made a lot of friends over here on previous visits.
Italian veteran Silvio Branco is now mandatory challenger for the EBU lightheavy title currently held by German Jurgen Brahmer.
Euro Boxing Roundup: Garay, Klitschko-Chagaev, Licina, Sam-Vidoz
By Per Ake Persson: Word from Argentina is that the now former WBA lightheavy champ Hugo Hernan Garay had to lose 25 kilo in 25 days before defending the title against Spaniard Gabriel Campillo, a huge underdog. After round five the normally strong, non-stop punching Garay had nothing left and ended up losing a majority decision. No disrespect to Campillo, a good, clever boxer, who previously held the EU title at supermiddle but he´s not likely to remain champ for long. Garay had a promotional deal with Universum in Germany – no word if there are any options on Campillo.
Watching Klitschko vs Chagaev on TV I noticed that what worked against Valuev for the former WBA champ (no longer under review or in recess) backfired against Klitschko: Chagaev moved to his own left – normally a wrong move for a southpaw fighting an ortodox boxer. Against Valuev Ruslan got away with it as the slow, plodding Russian followed him around the ring instead of cutting it off. Klitschko moved much better, worked with a snappy jab and dominated the fight with Chagaev walking into the right hand.
Media in Sweden was quick to point out that while Wladimir Klitschko might be an outstanding champion he´s only one of three champs. Fifty years ago it was different as we approach the day when Ingemar Johansson won the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world with a third round tko win over Floyd Patterson.
IBF I/C cruiser champ Enad Licina defend the title against Mexican Ignacio Esparza June 27 in Berlin on the Abraham vs Oral show. Licina was floored against Jose Luis Herrera last time out but showed a big heart in wearing down his opponent for a stoppage win.
EBU supermiddle champ Karo Murat will reportedly defend the title against Italian Lorenzo Di Giacomo August 29 in Germany.
Arena Box Promotion will promote the fight for the vacant EBU heavyweight title between veterans Sinan Samil Sam and Paolo Vidoz in September in either Turkey or Germany.
Czech jr middle Lukas Konecny face Frenchman Christophe Karagoz July 3 in Hannover on the undercard to Ragosina vs Ramsey.
Happy Birthday to former two-time EBU heavyweight champ Steffen Tangstad, who also fought Michael Spinks for the world title. Tangstad later made a career in TV as commentator and then also as promoter and agent for a number of fighters.