Mads Larsen (51-3, 38 KOs) has rejoined Team Sauerland to put himself back in line for a title fight. The former European Super-Middleweight Champion will again be working out under the guidance of Ulli Wegner. The German star coach, who also trains former IBF Middleweight Champion Arthur Abraham, World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight Champion Marco Huck and IBF Cruiserweight Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez, was in Larsen´s corner for five fights in 2007 and 2008 during the Golden Boy´s first stint with Team Sauerland.
“We are delighted to have Mads back on the team,” promoter Nisse Sauerland said. “We have been in touch for a while and we´re thrilled that everything is now signed and sealed. There is still a lot of boxing left in Mads. Ulli Wegner will bring out the best in him and get him ready for a future title fight.”
Sauerland believes that 2012 will be a big year. “We now have an excellent position for Danish boxing to take on the world,” he added. “With Mikkel Kessler, Mads Larsen, Rudy Markussen and the rise of the Nielsen brothers the next year will be absolutely massive, perhaps the biggest-ever for Danish boxing.”
Larsen will be training in Berlin. “I look forward to be working with Ulli Wegner again,” he said. “He has been in my corner before and there are still a lot of things even a veteran like myself can learn from him. I am pleased that we´ve sorted out all the details. I´ve stayed in good shape and I´m eager to get back to the Max-Schmeling-Gym to be part of a highly-talented training group. I know I can still do it and I can´t wait to prove it inside the ring.”
Larsen last stepped through the ropes in January 2010 when he lost to Brian Magee in a fight for the vacant European Super-Middleweight Title. “It´s great to have Mads back,” eight-time German coach of the year Ulli Wegner said. “Working out with our world champions in Berlin on a regular basis will give him a huge boost. He can still make the Danish fans very proud and that is exactly what he will do.”
BUNCEY’S BACK! BOXING HOUR RETURNS TO BOXNATION TOMORROW NIGHT
Steve Bunce’s hugely popular Boxing Hour makes it long awaited return to UK television screens’ tomorrow night (Monday 17th October) at 8pm, LIVE and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Platform Ch. 456).
The boxing fans’ favourite show returns with a mix of guests, interviews, news, exclusives, highlights and of course plenty of controversy on the UK’s first and only dedicated fight channel.
Planned for Buncey’s first show back are: super-heavyweight sensation Anthony Joshua who won silver at the World Amateur Championships; Britain’s only ever World Amateur Champion Frankie Gavin to cast his verdict on the record medal haul by Team GB in Azerbaijan; East End favourite Johnny Greaves and bitter rivals Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew join in on the phone ahead of their big fight on Saturday night in Liverpool.
Make sure you tune in to BoxNation tomorrow night from 8pm for Bunce’s Boxing Hour.
IABA UPDATE (IRISH SQUAD WORLD C’SHIPS HOMECOMING
The Irish Elite squad are due to arrive home from the 16th AIBA World Championships and Olympic qualifiers in Baku, Azerbaijan via Dublin Airport at 5.20pm this afternoon (Sunday, October 9th).
Irish squad Flight details
BMI BD 928 09OCT Baku London Heathrow 1055 1300
BMI BD 129 09OCT London Heathrow Dublin 1600 1720
The 16th AIBA World Championships concluded with finals in all ten weight categories yesterday.
The Ukraine won four gold medals to finish on top of the medals and rankings table.
The Ukraine, Cuba, Azerbaijan, Russia and Brazil, in that order, finished in the top five positions in the medals table.
The Ukraine, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Russia and China, in that order, finished in the top five positions in the Tean Rankings table.
Ireland finished in 13th position in the Team Rankings table at the 113-nation tournament and in joint 14th spot in the medals table with Germany, USA, India, Belarus, Lithuania, Romania, Monglia and Tajikistan.
English southpaw Luke Campbell, who edged out John Joe Nevin on a count back in Friday’s bantamweight semi-final, was beaten 14-10 by Cuba’s Lazaro Alvarez-Estrada in yesterday’s 56Kg final.
Welsh flyweight Andrew Selby, a 25-24 victor over Ireland’s Michael Conlan in the quarter-finals, lost out 13-12 to Misha Aloyan in the 52Kg decider.
Nevin, Conlan and Darren O’Neill qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games in Baku.
Irish Referee and Judge (R&J) Michael Gallagher was presented with the best R&J award at the 16th AIBA World Championships.
Visit www.iaba.ie
2011 AIBA World Men’s Championships Baku, Azerbaijan
September 27th
52Kg: (last 64) Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Alexandr Riscan (Moldova) 25-12
September 29th
69Kg: (last 64) Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) beat Carl Hield (Bahamas) 15-10
September 30th
64Kg: (last 64) Ray Moylette (St Anne’s) beat Arturs Ahmetous (Latvia) 16-11
October 1st (last 64)
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Glodi Eneste (Norway) 16-5
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Mohammad Momevand (Iran) 23-11
October 2nd (last 32)
52Kg:Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Olzhas Sattibayev (Kazakhstan) 18-17
64Kg: Ray Moylette (St Anne’s) lost to Manoj Kumar (India) 7-19
69Kg: Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) beat Borna Katalinic (Croatia) 21-17
81Kg: Joe Ward (Moate) beat Dilovarsho Abdurakhmanov (Tajikistan) 22-4
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) beat Faruth Kalonov (Tajikistan) RSC2
October 3rd (last 32)
49Kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family) lost to Mark Barriga (Philippines) 12-20
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Akhil Kumar (India) 21-14
60Kg: David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) beat Mohammad Khaiber (Afghanistan) 26-13
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Mohamad Hikal (Egypt) 15-13
91Kg: Ken Egan (Neilstown) lost to Jose Gomez Larduet (Cuba) RET3
October 4th (Last 16)
52Kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) beat Nordine Oubaali (France) 20-17
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu (Mongolia) 18-18 count back
69Kg: Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy) lost to Egidijus Kavaliauskas (Lithuania) 7-11
60kg; David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy) lost to Jai Bhagwan (India) 30-32
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) beat Mladen Manev (Bulgaria) 19-12
81Kg: Joe Ward (Moate) lost to Ehsan Rouzbahani (Iran) 15-15 count back
91+Kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel) lost to Roberto Cammerelle (Italy) RET3
(No count back scores available)
October 5th – Quarter-finals
52Kg: Michael Conlan (St John Bosco) lost to Andrew Selby (Wales) 24-25
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) beat Orzubek Shayimov (Uzbekistan) 19-17
75Kg: Darren O’Neill (Paulstown) lost to Ryota Murata (Japan) (afternoon) 9-18
October 7th – Semi-finals
56Kg: John Joe Nevin (Cavan) lost to Luke Campbell (England) 12-12 count back
(no count back scores available)
Irish Squad
49Kg (Light-flyweight) – Paddy Barnes (Holy Family BC, Belfast)
52Kg: (Flyweight) – Michael Conlan (St John Bosco BC, Belfast) (Qualified for the 2012 Olympics)
56Kg: (Bantamweight) – John Joe Nevin (Cavan BC) (Qualified for the 2012 Olympics)
60Kg: (Lightweight) – David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy BC, Kildare)
64Kg: (Light-welterweight) – Ray Moylette (St Anne’s BC, Mayo)
69Kg: (Welterweight) – Roy Sheehan (St Michael’s Athy BC, Kildare)
75Kg: (Middleweight) – Darren O’Neill (Paulstown BC, Kilkenny) (Qualified for the 2012 Olympics)
81Kg: (Light-heavyweight) – Joe Ward (Moate BC, Westmeath)
91Kg: (Heavyweight) – Ken Egan (Neilstown BC, Dublin)
91Kg+: (Super-heavyweight) – Con Sheehan (Clonmel BC, Tipperary)
IABA President: Tommy Murphy
Director of Boxing: Dominic O’Rourke
Team manager: Des Donnelly
Coaches: Billy Walsh, Zuar Antia, Jimmy Halpin
Physio: Scott Murphy
Performance Psychologist: Gerry Hussey
Performance Analysis: Alan Swanton