European Boxing News: Valuev, Holyfield, Betare, Povetkin, Mathis, Asloum

By Per Ake Persson

It´s not official but Nikolay Valuev´s defence of the WBA heavyweight title appears to be on for Zurich in Switzerland December 20 with Evander Holyfield as opponent. As always when Sauerland Event promotes they have the Austrian Federation as supervising body – in this case it´s a must as the Swiss Federation have an age limit for 35 for professional boxers and Evander is 46.

Former European middle champ Erland Betare returns after six years out November 15 in Chateauneuf-sur-Loir and face Tarek Khaidouri. The 36-year old Betare held the European belt 99-00 and retired in 2002 at 37-7-2. Headlining the bill is junior welter Jean Nicolas Weigel, who is in against Thai Dech Bankluaygym in a fight for the IBF Youth title.

According to a press release from Sauerland Event Alexander Povetkin stays in position as mandatory challenger for IBF heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko – but the IBF also regard Klitschko vs. Rahman December 13 in Mannheim as a mandatory defence by the champion which will give Wladimir another nine months more before being forced to take on Povetkin.

WIBF and WBA queen Ann Sophie Mathis defends her titles against Belinda Lacurente November 22 in Nouzonville. In the chief support Amar Mancer and Nadjib Mohammedi square off in a national championship bout at cruiser.

Italian welter Daniele Petrucci have vacated the European Union title and will fight Hungarian veteran Laszlo Komjathi November 14 in Rome: Petrucci will then challenge WBF International titleholder Domingos Nascimento Monteiro December 13 in Rome.

WBA light fly ruler Brahim Asloum isn´t likely to return until March or April of last year. Asloum pulled out of planned defence earlier this year due to contractual problems with the network Canal+. There have been some talks of a defence in Algeria where Brahim has his roots but nothing is set.

German tabloid Bild Zeitung have outlined the difficulties in making the Felix Sturm vs Arthur Abraham fight. Bild feels the purses will go up to 3 million EUR for each but as the fight is a strictly German affair it will be difficult for the networks – ARD and ZDF – to finance it.

Arena Box Promotion have switched their November 18 event from Istanbul to Cuxhaven after headliner Selcuk Aydin suffered an injury. Aydin was to have defended the WBC International title against Said Ouali. The show will now be topped by heavies Steffen Kretschmann and Konstantin Airich.

Kretschmann face hard punching but fragile compatriot Marcel Zeller while Airich face veteran Alexander Jakob. In a supporting bout middleweight Mahir Oral will again fight Alexander Sipos and not Kofi Jantuah as was planned. Herbie Hide – in line for a WBC eliminator at cruiser – is also on the bill. EuroSport televise the event throughout Europe.

Former WBA super middle challenger Dmitri Sartison returns after the loss to Mikkel Kessler November 15 in Duesseldorf on the undercard to Dimitrenko vs Krasniqi. Sartison is in against Brazilian Edison Francisco Guedes. Gusmyl Perdomo, a possible future challenger for Kessler, keep busy with an eight-rounder against decent Frenchman Laurent Goury.