It hardly gets any closer than this. At today’s purse bid for the European heavyweight championship between Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Bakhtov in Rome, ARENA outbid Universum by only 200,- Euros. ARENA’s offer of 157,000.- Euro were slightly enough to make sure that Universum (156,800.- Euro) cannot stage the fight as planned on their last show with TV partner ZDF on July 31st. Russian promoter German Titov won the purse bid by offering 260,000.- Euros..
„German was surprised when he heard that he won the purse bid“, said Ahmet Öner. „Obviously he had expected that Universum would place a higher offer to make sure that they get the fight. If German cannot set up the fight in Russia within the time frame given by the EBU we will be happy to step in with our bid.“
Dimitrenko and Bakhtov fight for the title that has been vacated by Audley Harrison who is hoping for a world title shot against David Haye or either Klitschko. Dimitrenko was Harrison’s mandatory challenger. Bakhtov won his right to fight for the vacant title by beating Steffen Kretschmann at an ARENA show in March in Hamburg.
Purse bid for European heavyweight championship Dimitrenko vs. Bakhtov tomorrow (Monday, June 21) in Rome
ARENA, Universum and German Titov expected to place their offers
Tomorrow (Monday, June 21) at noon the European Boxing Union EBU will hold a purse bid ceremony for the vacant European heavyweight championship between Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Bakhtov at the EBU office in Rome.
While Dimitrenko’s promoter Universum has already announced to stage the title fight between Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Bakhtov on July 31st, Russia’s German Titov and ARENA Sports-Promotion who share the promotional rights on Bakhtov are both expected to place their bids for the championship bout as well.
„We have presented Bakhtov’s last fight against Steffen Kretschmann live with our German TV partner SAT.1“, says promoter Ahmet Öner. „Of course, now SAT.1 is also interested when Bakhtov fights for the European championship. We will try to bring the fight to SAT.1.“
If Öner’s ARENA or Universum should place the winning bid the fight will most probably take place in Germany. Titov will try to bring the fight to Russia.