Liakhovich motivated for Helenius bout ; Cruz-Adjaho on 9/9

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (August 17, 2011) – Former World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) Heavyweight Champion Sergei “The White Wolf” Liakhovich is primed and set to challenge defending champion Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius for the WBO and World Boxing Association (“WBA”) Inter-Continental titles, next Saturday (Aug. 27) in a 12-round bout airing live in the United States from Efurt, Germany on the EPIX cable network.

Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs), who lives in Arizona, departs this Saturday for Germany, where Helenius resides. An impressive victory against Helenius (15-0, 10 KOs) — WBO #2, IBF #3, WBA #9, IBF #13 and No. 9 by The Ring – will set the stage for a major showdown with either of the current world title holders, Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko.

“I am ready and looking forward to August 27th,” Liakhovich said in between recent training sessions. “Helenius is a good fighter. He does certain things in the ring very well, but my job is to take that away from him. I will beat him at what he does badly and will take away what he does well. Fans are going to see a high- quality level of boxing and fighting from me.”

Liakhovich has a decisive experience advantage against Helenius, in terms of total professional fights (28 to 15) and rounds (161-70), as well as a huge edge in strength of opponents fought. Sergei is also being trained once again by Kenny Weldon, who worked with Liakhovich in the past, including his WBO title-winning performance against Lamon Brewster.

“My experience is a huge advantage in this fight,” Liakhovich noted. “I have been to war and back several times in my boxing career. There is no substitute for experience. Kenny and I are on the same page.”

Liakhovich’s Boston-based advisor and veteran boxing lawyer, Anthony Cardinale, revealed that Sergei passed on a much more lucrative offer to challenge Helenius.

“We were offered three times more money than this purse to fight one of the Klitschko brothers before Christmas,” Cardinale explained. “Sergei and I believe that there will be considerable more demand (and therefore much more money) for a Klitschko title fight following his defeat of Helenius. It was Sergei’s choice, and one I admire and respect

“Sergei is determined to win and more than ready to fight. Helenius is going to quickly find out that he is in the ring with someone he has not seen before — an opponent as relentless, confident and skilled as Sergei.”

“This is Sergei’s first fight since signing with Main Events,” his promoter Kathy Duva said. “From our first conversation he has clearly expressed his desire to make a real statement in the heavyweight division by fighting absolutely anyone. He is taking on a big challenge in Helenius, but we expect that by next Saturday (Aug. 27) everyone will know that Liakhovich is back and ready to regain his world heavyweight title.”

Ronald Cruz Boxes Anges Adjaho Sept. 9 In Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia, PA—Undefeated welterweight prospect Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem, PA, takes the biggest step of his young professional career when he takes on steel-chinned Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo, NY, in a scheduled eight-round contest Friday evening, Sept. 9, at the Asylum Arena, 7 West Ritner Street.

The Cruz-Adjaho contest will serve as the semifinal to the 10-round main event which features King Gabriel Rosado, of Philadelphia, against Keenan Collins, of Reading, PA, for the vacant Pennsylvania State junior middleweight championship.

The seven-bout card begins at 7.30 p.m. and the Cruz-Adjaho and Rosado-Collins fights will be televised at 11.30 p.m. on a delayed basis by Telefutura/Univision.

Cruz, 24, has won all 13 of his fights, 10 by knockout. A pro since 2007, Cruz has wins over Jeremy Bryan, Dillet Frederick and Doel Carrasquillo. A relative newcomer to boxing, Cruz (right) jammed 28 amateur fights into a 13-month period from July, 2007, until August, 2008. He won 25 of them before turning pro.

Cruz is managed by ex-pro lightweight Jimmy Deoria, of Phoenixville, PA. He is trained by Lemuel Rodriguez, of Bethlehem.

Adjaho, 31, is originally from Benin, West Africa. He came to the United States in 2006 and is 17-6, 9 K0s, a record compiled against some of the best at 147 pounds. His biggest win came in 2009 when he earned an eight-round decision over Fernando Angulo, of Ecuador.

In his last fight May 20 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Adjaho lost a 10-round decision to world-rated Joel Julio, of Colombia. Adjaho, who has been stopped once, has faced world-class contenders such as Antonio DeMarco, Brad Solomon and Shawn Porter, whose combined records were 53-1-1 at the time he fought them.

Five preliminary fights complete the Sept. 9 card, which is being promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., Don Chargin Productions and Golden Boy Promotions.

Tickets priced at $45 and $65 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions (215-765-0922). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.