Russian heavy Denis Bakhtov have accepted to step in as along with Aleksander Dimitrenko as co-challenger for the vacant EBU title. The EBU have set June 21 as deadline for purse bids or agreement and the fight must go ahead before July 31. Harrison remains as mandatory challenger for the winner.
Frank Warren Promotions have won the right to stage Ryan Rhodes´ defence of the EBU jr middleweight title against Lukas Konecny with an offer for 92,000 EUR. SES, Konecny´s promoter, bid 85,725 EUR while Hatton Promotions finished third with an offer for 81,750 EUR. When and where is to be announced.
The EBU held its General Assembly in Madrid this past weekend. The Promoter of the Year award was shared by Frank Maloney and Sauerland Event. Fighter of the Year went to former EBU superbantam champ Rendall Munroe. Fight of the Year went to Selcuk Aydin vs Jackson Osei Bonsu. Bob Logist was re-elected as President by a unanimous vote. New members of the council are German Jean Marcel Nartz, former matchmaker for Sauerland and later with Universum, and Frenchman Dominique Nato, at one an exellent amateur, decent pro and a long time coach with the French amateurs. New vice-President is Pertti Augustin, who replace Peter Stucki.
Promoter Anders Holmberg of Pugnus Boxing Promotion in Sweden is working hard on putting together the mainevents for one or two big promotions during September. What makes it even more special is that the headliners could be staged over longer distances – with special permission - than the maximum 12 minutes the Swedish rules allow. Holmberg have been in touch with Evander Holyfield´s management for some preliminary talks but it´s more likely we´ll see Florida-based Swedish heavy Attila Levin in the headliner, perhaps against Brit Michael Sprott.
An interesting fight in La Rochelle, France, June 12, between Ali Chebah and Loic Fouré was cancelled after the weighin due to a disagreement over which gloves to wear. Chebah, WBC Youth and NABF champ at jr welter, weighing in at welter at 66,0 kg, wanted eight ounce gloves while Fouré, somewhat heavier at 69,0, insisted on ten-ounce gloves.
16.06 Euro News
