Former World and European bantam champ Mario D´Agata passed away last week in Arezzo at the age of 82. D´Agata turned pro in 1950, won the European title in 55 and beat then World champ Robert Cohen in Rome in 56. He lost the title the year after to Frenchman Alphonse Halimi. D´Agata retired in 1962 with a record of 54-10-3.
The press release from Sauerland Event says that Alexander Povetkin is ready for Wladimir Klitschko after his clear win over Jason Estrada Saturday night in Duesseldorf. The press release from Universum says that Alexander Dimitrenko is ready for Povetkin. And a Povetkin vs Dimitrenko fight for the vacant EBU title appears to be a lot closer than Klitschko vs Povetkin as the IBF and WBO heavyweight champ first fights David Haye. The way Povetkin looked against Estrada Dimitrenko is in with a good chance for an upset win.
WBA supermiddle champ Mikkel Kessler is in Spain training but the dispute with Team Palle remains and there are no news of any settlement or another defence. Mandatory challenger is Gusmyl Perdomo.
Finnish jr welter Jaakko Myllyla, now 8-0, won the vacant BBU title Saturday night with a unanimous eight round decision over Russian Andrey Devyatakin on Steel Ring´s show in Haapavesi.
On the same night, also in Finland but in Porvoo, middleweight veteran Kai Kauramaki returned after a brief layoff and outscored Estonian Leonti Vorontchuk over six.
Swedish female jr middle Mikaela “Destiny” Lauren turned pro in Burghausen, Germany, April 4,with a four round points win over Sandra Kirschbaum. Lauren was once a big name in swiming but got herself, through a boyfriend, involved in drugs and doping, got caught, did time but is a now concentrating on boxing.
EE-EU middle champ Yves Studer defends the title May 22 in Bern against Georgian challenger Levan Shonia. On the undercard once-touted welter Riad Menasria, 27-1-1, comes back after 18 months out. Menasria scored several good wins but reportedly priced himself out of several important fights – he then suffered an upset loss to Romanian Gheorge Danut and have been inactive since then.
The undercard to Sturm vs Kato April 25 in Krefeld feature two heavyweight fights of some interest. Spotlight Boxing´s Gbenga Oloukun fights Manuel Charr, who at one was signed with Sauerland Event and Markus Tomala is in against German-based Cuban Pedro Carrion a one-time amateur star, who defected and have reportedly been influential in getting other Cubans to turn pro in Germany.