After an agreement was reached today between Sauerland Event and Rimer Boxe it now that EBU middle champ Sebastian Sylvester's mandatory defence against Spaniard Javier Castillejo is on and will go ahead April 12 in Germany. With this fight Castillejo, already WBA # 1 and mandatory challenger for Felix Sturm, and Rimer Boxe take a big risk. A loss to Sylvester means no third fight against Sturm and probably the end of his long and distinguished career. For Sylvester it's a great opportunity to reach the top and get a shot at Felix Sturm in a big German showdown. The one left out in the cold is Finn Amin Asikainen, who fight Yori Boy Campas tomorrow in Helsinki. Amin split two fights with Sylvester and should have had a third fight coming but Castillejo was moved into the mandatory position despite being the WBA # 1 as well. 

The second "Grand Tornoi" event is again staged at Cirque d'Hiver February 21 in Paris. Nominal headliners are lightweights Anthony Mezaache vs Pierre France Bonicel in a national title fight. In the tournament itself Thierry Karl, fresh off an upset win over Dejan Ribac in Serbia, face Sylvain Touzet while Mehdi Bouadla fight Affif Belgecham. Cruiser Valery Brudov, heavy Carlos Takam and lightweight Jean Nicolas Weigel are also on the bill. Should Karl win his fight a showdown with rival Francois Bastient awaits March 21 at the same location. Bastient won their first encounter but just lost an EBU title fight to Sebastian Sylvester. 

Virchis-Gomez: Universum won purse bids January 14 and should then stage the fight within 90 days - otherwise they lose to chance to stage this intriguing match up. The have for now set March 8 in Krefeld as fightdate, something Arena and Gomez apparently refuse to accept. The question is if they can do that - on the other hand who else can Virchis square off against in this WBC eliminator inside the 90 days?

K 2 East, formerly known as National Boxing Promotions, plans to stage it's first show February 21 in Kiev with ligheavy Vyacheslav Uzelkov headlining.

Polish heavy Markus Tomala has signed with Spotlight Boxing and makes his pro debut February 29 in Hamburg.

WBA jr welter champ Gavin Rees' defence against Universum signed Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik is likely to go ahead sometime in March in the UK.

WIBF, GBU and WBA interim female jr middleweight ruler Karolina Lukasik goes for a unification of the titles March 1 in Port of Spain, T & T, March 1, against Jisselle Salandy, who holds the WBA and WBC titles as well as a host of minor belts.

ABU lightweight champ and WBC # 15 Sam Rukundo, from Uganda but living in Sweden, square off against Hungarian Andres Meszaros February 9 in Aabysundby, Denmark. This bill also features come-backing cruiser Lasse Johansen, super middleweight Fawaz Nasir and featherweight Kim Poulsen.

Polish Hammer Knockout promotes a show in Lublin February 9 headlined by cruisers Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, the former IBF champ and Pawel Kolodziej, the WBC Youth titleholder.

Jr middleweights Pablo Navascues from Spain and Frenchman Jimmy Colas clash for the vacant EU title February 15 in Marseille.