Four top cruiserweights showcased their talents today in Frankfurt prior to Team Sauerland´s big show at the Fraport Arena on Saturday night. In four days, International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (25-1, 13 KOs) and two-time world champion Steve Cunningham (24-3, 12 KOs) will meet again, while Enad Licina and Alexander Alekseev clash for the vacant European Cruiserweight Title. “I deserve to be world champion and I will prove my worth on Saturday night,” Hernandez told the press after today´s session. “He is good, but I don´t consider him a world champion,” Cunningham said of his opponent. “I am here to take home the title and become world champion for a third time.”
Meanwhile, Licina (21-3, 11 KOs) has vowed to leave the ring victorious against Alekseev (22-2, 20 KOs). “I grew up in Frankfurt and I want to give my fans an entertaining fight,” he said. “Alekseev is an accomplished fighter but I am tough and I will beat him.” Said Alekseev: “I need to win. I want to be the new European champion.”
In the third title fight of the night, European Light Heavyweight Champion Eduard Gutknecht (22-1, 9 KOs) makes his first mandatory defence against Vyacheslav Uzelkov (25-1, 16 KOs). “He is a very strong opponent but I will remain the champion,” Gutknecht said.
Lee Haskins Chases World Title
LONDON, UK (January 31). British bantamweight Lee Haskins is aiming to make boxing history as he sets his sights on winning a major world title in 2012. No British boxer has ever won a world title at Super Flyweight and it was over fifteen years ago since Wales Robbie Regan won the WBO Bantamweight Title.
Over recent years Haskins (25-2-0 11KO’s) has firmly established himself as Europe’s best, holding the British Super Flyweight Title for over three years and a win over current European Bantamweight Champion Jamie McDonnell. Haskins is ranked in the top 15 of all four major governing bodies including WBC #5, WBA#9, IBF #13, WBO #14.
Haskins said “I have run out of challengers in Europe and now want to show the world that I am ready. The Japanese and Thai World Champions seem to keep taking the easy options so I am hoping one of the Mexican World Champions will take up my challenge.” Haskins added “South Americans pride themselves on honour, bravery and fighting the best. So I am hoping they will accept my challenge and not hide away.”
Haskins long time manager Chris Sanigar confirmed “Lee deserves his chance and has proved his ability as a world contender the hard way. Lee is a promotional free agent and willing to travel anywhere for a shot at either a Super flyweight or Bantamweight World Title.”
Sanigar continued “We see Abner Mares, Anselmo Moreno, Jorge Arce, Omar Narvaez and Rodrigo Guerrero are all seeking opponents for defences so my message to their promoters is there no need to keep looking Haskins is ready!”
HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TRAINER ANGELO DUNDEE
CANASTOTA, NY – FEBRUARY 2, 2012 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced its flags will fly at half-staff in memory of trainer Angelo Dundee. He passed away yesterday in Tampa, FL. He was 90.
1992 Hall of Fame Inductee Angelo Dundee
Born in Philadelphia, Dundee moved to New York following World War II and learned from many of the great trainers at Stillman’s Gym. He eventually relocated to Miami Beach and was the chief trainer at the world-renowned 5th Street Gym. Dundee went on to guide 15 world champions including Ralph Dupas, Jimmy Ellis, Michael Nunn and Hall of Famers Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilio, George Foreman, Sugar Ramos, Jose Napoles, Luis Rodriguez and Willie Pastrano. Dundee served as technical advisor for the film Ali in 2001. He also prepared Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe for his role in the 2005 boxing film Cinderella Man. Dundee was named Manager of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association in 1968 and 1979 and was also the recipient of their James J. Walker Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Boxing in 1996.
“The sport of boxing had no greater ambassador than Angelo Dundee. No matter where he went, he was always promoting the sport he lived and loved his entire life,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “Everyone at the Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning the loss of one of the greats.”
In 1992, Dundee was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.