Turkish heavy Sinan Samil Sam outscored
one Mazur Ali over six this past weekend in Istanbul and is now gearing up to
fight for the vacant EBU title against Matt Skelton. Sam got the chance after
German Luan Krasniqi pulled out. Luan was first to have taken on Aleksander
Dimitrenko, who priced himself out, then Skelton stepped in and now Krasniqi is
out, Skelton remains and Sam is in. Why Krasniqi pulled out remains an open
question.
Amir Khan, vs Martin Kristjansen is on
again - this time for April 5 in Bolton, UK. The fight, a WBO eliminator at
lightweight, was originally scheduled for January 30 but the Dane was forced to
pull out due to the flu.
It's all silent about the WBC
heavyweight eliminator between Juan Carlos Gomez and Vladimir Virchis from the
WBC and Universum, who after purse bids January 14 have the right to stage the
fight. First Gomez had internal problems with his promoter, then Virchis pulled
out of the original March 8 date. After that it's been very quiet. Virchis has
issued a press release that he is now ready to face Gomez but is worried about
no new date has been set by Universum.
Hungarian light heavyweight Imre Szello,
a quarter finalist in the recent World championships in Chicago, has signed with
Sauerland Event.
Ukrainian promotional outfit Union
Boxing Team has moved their planned April 5 show in Donetsk to March 25 to
accommodate TV (EuroSport). Welter Vyacheslav Senchenko defends the WBA I/C
title against Pole Slavomir Ziemlewicz. WBC Youth champ Stas Kashtanov makes a
final (he'll be over aged after this) defence of the title against Brazilian
Joilson Morais da Silva. WBO I/C jr lightweight titleholder Oleg Yefimovich take
on Spaniard Juan Manuel Garcia Martin.
Gaetano Nespro defends the Italian 160
lb title against Luciano Lombardi February 27 in Monza.
Italian jr welter veteran Gianluca
Branco fight German Nico Salzmann on OPI 2000´s show in Milan February 29.
Cruiser Herbie Hide face Hungarian
Joszef Nagy March 11 in Halle an der Saale.
Alexandre Vladimirov defends the IBC
Int'l title March 9 on a show in Sofia, Bulgaria, against Swiss Bertrand Bossel.
Local hero Alex Mogylevski face Alex
Litau for the vacant EBO cruiserweight title February 23 in Aachen. EBO European
Boxing Organization, a subtitle - sort of - to GBO, a Munich-based organization
that broke out of the GBA.
"THE HUNTER" IS PLANNING TO LEAVE GERMANY"
... by Per-Âke Persson
Vladimir Virchis will not fight Juan Carlos Gomez on March 8th,
2008. “The Hunter” clearly explained to his promoter Universum/Spotlight
that he needs more time to prepare for a fight of this importance and
will not sign a fight contract for the proposed date. He needs at least
eight more weeks of preparation.
After informing Universum/Spotlight, Vladimir has been threatened by his
promoter that he might be replaced in the eliminator and therefore lose
his big chance to become heavyweight champion of the world if he didn’t
accept the date March 8th.
Vladimir is planning today to leave Germany for his home country
Ukraine, and there to continue the preparation,
until these problems are resolved.
(Updated information was given by Oleg Hug, Vladimir Virchis' agent).
JUAN CARLOS GOMEZ: "I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT ONE OF THE KLITSCHKO
BROTHERS"... by Per Âke Persson
Q: What's your comment on the Universum's cancellation of the
fight? And what now?
A: It's good because it gives me more time to prepare. However I
would and can still be ready for March 8. I hope to get a new
date as soon as possible. I have a great team with Freddie and
my conditioning coach Mo. We are in serious training and no
matter which day I will fight I will turn up in great shape.
