It´s rumored that WBO lightheavy champ Zsolt Erdei´s next defence will be in Germany September 5 and the opponent will no other than Universum stablemate Juergen Braehmer, the current EBU champ. Braehmer defends that title June 6 in Oberhausen against Italian Antonio Brancalion and if all goes well – and Juergen is a firm favourite – the last hurdle for a showdown with Erdei should be done with.
Welters Jackson Osei Bonsu and Selcuk Aydin appears now to be on for Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, with the vacant EBU title and Aydin´s WBC Int´l belt at stake. The winner will then have to face Italian veteran Gianluca Branco. Jackson vs Selcuk is an exciting matchup between a puncher, Osei Bonsu, and a relentless pressure fighter in Aydin.
The undercard to Valuev vs Chagaev May 30 in Helsinki is getting pretty crowded and two EU titlefights have been added. Italian Leonard Bundu will at welter defend the crown against German Frank Shabani while Finn Juho Tolppola at jr welter will challenge Giuseppe Lauri. As for the Nordic Nightmare, Robert Helenius, born in Sweden but as a fighter raised mainly in Finland, face Brit Scott Gammer, who represent a step up in class for the 7-0 Helenius. Gammer have lost three of his last four fights but that have been against Danny Williams, John McDermott and Francesco Pianeta – in this fight Scott quit due to a broken hand at a time in the fight when he seemed to be coming on.
French Muay Thai world champ Jerome LeBanner returns to boxing May 23 in Deauville. LeBanner went 4-0 back in 98 and face German Werner Kreiskott, not the toughest of opponents, in his comeback. The show also marks the return for promoter Jean Christophe Courreges, who at one time was a major player on the French scene promoting among others the Tiozzo brothers.
WBA I/C supermiddle titleholder Stepjan Bozic will defend the title July 18 in Ulag, Opponent could be Costa Rican Henry Porras.
Swedish Pugnus Promotions have given up plans for a show in May and one Ingemar Johansson memorial June 27 in Gothenburg. Pugnus will be back with a big event in September though.
Belgian middles Michel Recloux and Jamel Bakhi clash for the vacant national title May 29 in Vise with BCCMG promoting.
Brian Mathiasen Boxing and Risum Boxing join forces for a show June 19 in Horsens, Denmark, headlined by local lightweight Kim Poulsen who goes for the rather obscure UBO I/C title. Supermiddle Fawaz Nasir is also on the bill.
13.05 Euro News
