European Boxing News: Stieglitz, Konecny, Campillo, Golovkin, Pozo

By Per Ake Persson

WBO super middle champ Robert Stieglitz defends the title April 9 in his adopted hometown of Magdeburg. An opponent is yet to be announced. The show is promoted by SES at the Boerdeland Hall with SAT 1 televising the main bouts live. Stieglitz is now trained by former stable and gymmate Dirk Dzemski.

Turkish-German heavy Yakup Saglam takes on Michael Wallish for the International German heavyweight titles April 1 in Berlin on the undercard to Simon vs Soliman. Saglam was also scheduled to fight European Union ruler Robert Helenius April 2 in Halle / Westfalen but has apperently, without notice, pulled out of that one.

European junior middle champ Lukas Konecny is without an official challenger as Ryan Rhodes withdrew from this position on the day of the purse bids which was February 28.

The Spanish plans to have Gabriel Campillo fighting at least Zsolt Erdei appears to be PR for the national press only as Christof Hawerkamp, Erdei´s manager, says no offer has been made. “Besides, we have other plans for Erdei”, says Hawerkamp.

Mario Pokowietz, matchmaker for WBA standard middleweight champ Gennadyi Golovkin, says that the reports of a deal between Universum and Golovkin are not correct. Golovkin lost the contract dispute in a Hamburg court but the case have been appealed to a higher court. No word from Universum on the matter.

Spanish fly Ivan Pozo takes on Nicaraguan Adonis Rivas March 4 in Porrino for the WBC affiliated Mundo Hispano title. Pozo has, during his long career, also held the European title and challenged Omar Narvaez for the WBO crown.

Amin Asikainen and Piotr Wilczewski met the press today in Helsinki. The two fight for the vacant European super middle title on Saturday at the Hartwall Arena. Both are confident of victory. Wilczewski is trained by Andrei Gmitruk, who used to handle Tomasz Adamek. Asikainen feels his setbacks at middleweight were due to problems making the weight.

It´s the last chance for now 35-year old Finn – but if he should win, look for P3 Boxing in Finland to go a long way to secure a world title shot for Amin, who is a big draw at home both with fans, sponsors and TV.