European Boxing News: Bouziane, Moreno, Lebedev, Zaveck, Kessler

By Per Ake Persson

French bantam Malik Bouziane has relinquished the European title to concentrate on a possible shot at WBA king Anselmo Moreno during 2010. There was to have been purse bids for Bouziane vs Jerome Arnould today in Rome in what would have been a dangerous mandatory defence.

There was only one bidder for the fight between Denis Lebedev and Steve Herelius for the vacant European cruiser title and that was from AMI Production in France who put in an offer for 40 000 EUR. Date and site is to be announced.

Cruisers Rachid El Hadak and Zakaria Azzouzi clash for the national title February 25 in Hyeres. El Hadak will apparently drop out of a fight against Belgian Geoffrey Batello for the European Union crown set for February 20 to fight Azzouzi.

Osaga Promotions in Denmark was at the last minute forced to cancel its planned promotion on December 19 in Aalborg. Osaga first had its Danish license withdrawn due to financial difficulties and then had obtained a license with the GBA in Germany. But in the last minute the promoter failed to come up with the necessary financial guarantee and the show was off.

Jr middle prospect “Golden” Jack Culcay, 1-0, turned pro Saturday night in Schwerin and have his next fight set for Magdeburg January 9 on the Stieglitz vs Miranda bill. As part of Culcay´s fight a lenghty clip was shown from when Eckhard Dagge, the last German world champ at light middle, won the WBC title by stopping Elisha Obed in the tenth round back in 76.

Who newly crowned IBF welter champ Jan Zaveck will fight in his first defence? Well, Pole Rafael Jackiewicz seems like a very likely opponent. Jackiewicz beat Zaveck on a close decision in 08 and a rematch have been talked about since then. Rafael then won a IBF eliminator while Jan stepped in at relatively short notice to win the IBF title against Isaac Hlatswayo.

Palm Promotions have welterweight veterans Allan Vester and Christian Bladt on the undercard to Larsen vs Magee January 30 in Aarhus.

Former WBA super middle champ Mikkel Kessler will work with a mental trainer as part of the preparations for the April 17 showdown against WBC king Carl Froch in Denmark.

Kessler comes off a career worst performance against Andre Ward and the normal way back is through wins over suitable opponents to rebuild the confidence but not so for the participants in the Super Six tournament.

Swedish middles Vame Kartweli, 7-0, and Karlo Tabaghua, 12-1, are both featured on the undercard in the big Christmas Day show in Izegem, Belgium. Lightweight Jean Pierre Bauwens headlines against Christian Frias.