German heavyweight prospect Erkan Teper is currently in training camp with World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver welterweight champion Selcuk Aydin in Hamburg to get in shape for his next fights. Promoter Ahmet Oner will take his “rough diamond“ to the USA for two more fights in August and September: “Erkan will fight on August 26th in Kissimmee, Florida. If he wins that bout and doesn’t get injured we will do another fight in September.”
Oner wants his fighter to stay as busy as possible – and Erkan himself likes the idea of taking the fast track to the top. “I have no problems fighting every three or four weeks”, states Teper. “As an amateur I fought every weekend plus four or five times in one week at the big tournaments. Of course, professional boxing is a completely different thing and you can’t compare the efforts to the amateurs. Still I want to make as many fights as possible to gain experience. Fighting is something you only learn when you’re actually doing it.”
Teper – a former member of the German amateur national team and silver medallist at the World Military Championships 2008 – has scored six wins since turning pro in September 2010 winning the WBC mediterranean title against Jakov Gospic in his last bout on July 15th in Göppingen, Germany.
“I’m proud that I managed to win a title with only six pro-fights but I see this more as a stopover on my way to the top“, says Teper. “I want to win more fights, more belts and hopefully get a shot at the European championship or a world title one day. But until that day I know that I got a lot of work to do. I don’t want to waste any time sitting around so I really appreciate the support of my promoter and my management and their efforts of keeping me busy. I will not disappoint them.“
TURBA HOPING TO LAND PROMOTIONAL DEAL
RIK TURBA hopes to be able to give up his job as a Blackpool bouncer if he defeats Mitchell Balker later this month.
The cruiserweight powerhouse faces the Dutchman in his hometown at Blackpool Tower over eight rounds on Friday August 19.
Turba, 26, ended a four year lay-off last September and since coming back has impressed stopping Jon Lewis Dickinson and Leon Williams.
Rik who boasts a 6-2-1 record said: “I work as a doorman for Northern Security at the Walkabout bar in Blackpool, but because of this fight I have had five weeks off.
“After this fight, maybe I will go back to work there or if there is something better for me from one of the big promoters I can give that up.
“It would be great if I could box full-time and not have to worry about work.”
Turba has applied for British citizenship giving him real hopes of challenging British champion Robert Norton next year.
The Slovakian born boxer explained: “I have been in Blackpool for six-and-a-half years and it is my home. I happy and don’t plan to return to Slovakia.
“It will take a few months to get my British nationality. I have to so some tests on the language and way of life, but hope to get my citizenship by the end of the year.
“It means I can fight for the British title and I would feel confident of beating the current champion, Robert Norton.”
In the Blackpool bill topper Matthew Hatton faces unbeaten Belarussian Andre Abramenka for the vacant IBF intercontinental title.
Turba’s occasional sparring partner, unbeaten Matty Askin faces Argentinian Juan Manuel Garay over six rounds
Other prospects on the bill include welterweight hopeful Adam Little and middleweight debutant Tom Scott who faces Bobby Wood.
In a six round bantamweight attraction Kazakhstan’s Zhanat Zhakyanov faces a selected opponent
The show promoted by Robert Waterman will be televised live by Eurosport and ticket are available prices £35, £55 and £75 VIP from 01925 755222 and www.ticketline.co.uk