By James Slater: Another solid, value for money fight-card is set to go down in Germany this coming Saturday. All set to rumble in Hamburg are: Alexander Dimitrenko, who will be defending his European heavyweight title against battle-hardened warrior Michael Sprott, unbeaten hope Denis Boytsov, who will be facing Michael Greer in what will be his first fight in ten months, and former WBC cruiserweight champ Juan Carlos Gomez, who will continue his heavyweight campaign against another former cruiser in Darnell “Ding-A-Ling Man” Wilson.
All three fights (supported by top female fighter Ina Menzer also in action, against a TBA, as well as unbeaten cruiser prospect Rakhim Chakhkiev against Michael Simms) should prove to be watchable affairs.
Ukraine’s Dimitrenko, 31-1(21) should have too much size and power for the well-travelled Sprott, 36-16(17). The 36-year-old Brit is as fearless as they come and he has a ton of experience (more than 29-year-old Dimitrenko has picked up at pro level), but his career must be coming to an end pretty soon. Beaten in recent years by Alexander Ustinov, Audley Harrison and, last time out, Tye Fields, Sprott might be made to feel his age against the huge Dimitrenko.
At just 6’1,” Sprott will be giving away six inches in height on Saturday night. At approx 240, Sprott will also be giving away around 15-pounds. Not only that, but Dimitrenko, beaten only by Eddie Chambers as a pro, is coming off two useful KO wins: one over Yaroslav Zavorotnyi and, last time out, Albert Sosnowski. Sprott, as game as ever, is in for a tough night. I see Dimitrenko becoming the ninth man to halt the long-serving pro.
Russia’s Boytsov, 28-0(23) should also have too much for Greer; even if he may be rusty in what will be his first fight back after undergoing hand surgery. Greer is nine years the older man at age 34, he has a so-so record at 14-6(13) and the American has lost three of his last five. On the plus side for Greer is the fact that he is taller and heavier at 6’2” and around 245 to 6’1” and approx 220 for the unbeaten hope. If Boytsov does feel sluggish due to rust and if he takes a few rounds to get going, Greer, who can bang, might make things interesting. I go for Boytsov to win in the later rounds of the scheduled eight-rounder.
The Gomez-Wilson eight-rounder could be the liveliest fight of the night. Cuba’s Gomez, 49-2(37) is a southpaw who likes to engage, while Wilson of Maryland, 23-12-3(20) can certainly crack hard. Gomez is 38-years-old now, and the southpaw has not fought since last December. Winner of five since his March 2009 stoppage loss to WBC king Vitali Klitschko, “The Black Panther” has seen his weight fluctuate from anywhere between 242 to 255 in the five wins. How much desire does Gomez have today?
With 36-year-old Wilson, we really don’t know what to expect these days. Loser of his last six, two by stoppage, the former WBA 200-pound title challenger may have nothing left in the tank. However, if he has one last big push inside his body, and if he can land something big on the chin of the often sluggish Gomez, “Ding-A-Ling” might just give the older man with the far more impressive record a hard time. This one, if the fans are lucky, will be a nice little slugfest while it lasts.
Gomez has to be the pick, but Wilson could make things exciting for a while; even if he will be giving away a fair amount of height and reach.