European Boxing News: Garay, Brahmer, Trabant, Bowe, Asikainen, Gevor, Valuev

By Per Ake Persson

It´s official: WBA Light Heavy Champ Hugo Hernan Garay defends the title against #1 challenger Jurgen Brahmer on October 18 in Dresden. However, German media writes today that Brahmer is in the middle of another investigation for assault. This time a man in Schwerin claims that Brahmer – on parole until September 15 from another sentence – punched him following a argument in a pub.

Universum spokesman Christof Hawerkamp is quoted by news agency dpa as saying that the Garay fight shouldn´t be in any danger. Brahmer himself denies all wrongdoings. Co-headlining in Dresden is WBO Junior Middle title holder Sergey Dzinziruk defending against Colombian Joel Julio.

The comeback of German heavy Timo Hoffmann set for October 4, after eleven months out since losing to Aleksander Dimitrenko and getting a year long suspension after a positive doping test, appears to be off for now – reportedly due to financ ial reasons. Hoffmann was to fight for promoter Peter Pelk, who is licensed with the GBA.

WBA Intercontinental Junior Welter titlist Brunet Zamora defends against Brazilian Sydney Siqueira on September 18 in Adria, Italy. On the undercard, middleweight Simone Rotolo faces Czech journeyman Patrick Hruska.

Michel Trabant, the veteran German welterweight, is out of the contract with Sauerland Event after back to back losses, but will continue boxing. Word is that the former European Champ and WBA title challenger is still in deep financial difficulties. Trabant has a comeback fight set for November 29 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

WBO Intercontinental Welter Champ Christian Bladt might defend against Italian Michele Di Rocco in Italy, later this fall.

WBC Youth champ at welter, Oliver Guettel, will make the first defence of his title on October 10 in Barleben (just outside of Magdeburg) with SES promoting.

No sign of former heavyweight champion of the world, Riddick Bowe, in Hungary yet. He is scheduled to fight Zoltan Petranyi on September 12 in Gyor. Petranyi, als o a promoter, manager and agent, is not in Hungary either – he is at the moment in South Africa where his boxer Joszef Nagy goes for the vacant WBF Cruiser title on September 5 in Secunda.

Finn “Idi” Amin Asikainen and Armenian, based in Germany with Universum, Khoren Gevor, fight for the vacant European Middleweight title on October 24 at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

Promoter Pekka Maeki confirms there is an agreement made, although it´s not officially announced yet. However, the EBU have it already up on their website. Asikainen vs. Gevor is a fine matchup between two physically strong, capable fighters but Asikainen´s heavier punch should make a difference.

Newly crowned WBA Heavy champ Nikolay Valuev has December 12 in Germany as working date for his first defence in his second reign as title holder.

French junior middle Christophe Canclaux, signed to Sauerland Event, fights on the undercard of Monrose vs. Huck and Murat vs. Campillo on September 20 in Bielefeld.