IBF middleweight champ Sebastian Sylvester returns to Neubrandenburg and the Jahnsportforum when he makes the first defence of the title January 30. No opponent is announced yet. Sylvester won the title in September against Giovanni Lorenzo and also knocked out Javi Castillejo at this venue.
Mads Larsen vs Brian Magee for the EBU supermiddle title was on for January 30 in Aarhus but is now out to purse offers again with December 3 as deadline. Larsen was originally set to fight Dimitri Sartison after Palm Promotions had won purse bids for that one. Sartison then pulled out to fight for the WBA title with Brian Magee becoming the new opponent for Larsen. Palm was quick to sign a deal with Magee and Larsen vs Magee was on. However, the EBU should have called for purse bids as it was a new fight which was pointed out by Sauerland Event who have a contract with Larsen that expires December 30 with option for another year. Larsen wants out of the deal with Sauerland and there have been a lot of unhappy comments from both parts in Danish media
IBF Youth middleweight champ Dominik Britsch will now fight Cleber Argente Alves on Saturday in Luwdigsburg and not Matias Ezequiel Franco, who had to pull out due to passport problems. Russian heavy Alexander Povetkin will fight American Leo Nolan. Povektin is now trained by Teddy Atlas and is waiting for a shot at the IBF title but there is no date set.
OPI 2000 in Italy have signed up supermiddle Mohamed Ali Ndiaye, 15-1, and welter Michele Di Rocco, 26-1-1. Ndiaye have fights set for December 23 and January 29 in Rovigo when he appears on the undercard to Brancalion vs Cleverly.
WBA I/C jr middle champ Zauerbek Baysangurov defends the title December 19 in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, on a K 2 East promotion. Dmitrij Nikulin, also at jr middle, will fight for the WBO European title. Also on the bill is lightheavy Vitaliy Rusal, welter Valery Brazhnik and jr welter Sergey Fedchenko.
Next up for Florida-based Swedish heavy Attila Levin could be a spot on the Botha vs Holyfield card January 16 in Kampala, Uganda. Supermiddle Badou Jack and welter Patrick Bogere, the best Swedish prospects around, are both booked for the show.
Norwegian Arild “the Hulk” Haugen turns pro December 11 in Valencia against Latvian Pavels Dolgovs. Haugen have previously competed as a strongman and bodybuilder. His weight is now around 120 kilos of pure muscles and Norwegian press give “the Hulk” a lot of publicity.
P 3 Boxing in Finland close out the year with a small show at the Aladdin Nightclub in Espoo December 12 with lightweight Edis Tatli, supermiddle Niko Jokinen and cruiser Harri Hakulinen on the bill.
Bild Zeitung reported Friday November 26 that Super Six tournament Arthur Abraham again had missed out on a training session. Trainer Ulli Wegner wasn´t one bit happy about it and said “King” Arthur was blowing his career. There have been many rumors of that Abraham is lazy in training but come fighttime – this far – he´s always had that little extra to see him come through. Abraham is next scheduled to fight Andre Dirrell in the second round of the Super Six tournament.
30.11 Euro News
