Universum promotes a show in Solden, Austria, December 4 that shows the new face of professional boxing in Europe and the importance of TV. It´s headlined by ex-WBO supermiddle champ Karoly Balzsay who face stablemate and WBO I/C ruler Eduard Gutknecht in what is an internal eliminator as well. At superbantam Zsolt Bedak face Ramie Laput for the WBO I/C jr feather crown. Both Balzsay´s and Bedak´s fights are shown by RTL Klub in Hungary. Polish lightweight veteran Matt Zegan is in against Araik Sachbazjan and this fight goes out live to a Polish network. German cruiser king Serdar Sahin defend the title against Varol Vekiloglu with DSF televising it in Germany. Finally, WBC fly queen Simona Galassi square off against Aziza Oubaita with Italian TV televising it.
Osaga Promotions show in Aalborg, Denmark, December 4, is reportedly postponed until a future date – some say December 19. As to why the Danish Federation announced yesterday that Osaga failed to meet their request for a bank deposit to guarantee purses and other costs. There are also rumors of visa problems for the visiting boxers, most coming in from Kenya. The show was to have been headlined by lightweights Kim Poulsen and Athanas Nzau.
WBA middle champ Felix Sturm is planning for a future without Universum and have had talks with Freddie Roach but it´s fact that while his contract with Universum have expired the matter of the options claimed by Universum is still a matter in the courts.
Finnish Steel Ring are back in action on Friday in Haukipudas with jr middle Mika Joensuu taking on Venezuela Luis Carmona, now based in Spain, in the headliner.
Bulgarian heavyweight Kubrat Pulev, 3-0, more an establised force than a prospect, face very experienced American Zach Page in a scheduled six-rounder on the Huck vs Afolabi undercard December 5 in Ludwigsburg.
02.12 Euro News
