Kotelnik in for Tough Night with Witter.

Jr. welterweight top contender Andreas Kotelnik will be in action this weekend, other than the majority of his stable mates who are taking several weeks off during the promotional summer break of Universum Box-Promotion during July and August. On Saturday, July 9, the 27-year-old Kotelnik is challenging European title holder Junior Witter in the champion’s backyard in Nottingham, England. Kotelnik and Witter have been beaten only once in their impressive professional careers. Witter, regarded as the favorite over Kotelnik, is holding the European title since he knocked out Italian Salvatore Battaglia in the second round in June 2004.

“You have the chance to conquer every opponent”, coach Michael Timm said. “Recently we witnessed two big surprises in this weightclass when Vivian Harris and Kostya Tszyu lost by knockout. Everybody must lose one day. Why shouldn’t we be able to defeat Witter in his home country?”

Witter, 31-1-2 (19), is holding two more championship titles beside the European belt. The 31-year-old Englishman is also the British and Commonwealth champion. His single defeat came against American Jab Judah in June 2000, a loss that is very acceptable as Judah is currently regarded as best welterweight fighter in the world. Witter dropped a unanimous decision against him. However, two draws in the early stage of Witter’s career furthermore mar the perfect picture of his record, something that team Kotelnik may give additional hope and confidense.

According to Timm his charge Andreas Kotelnik, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist, is highly motivated and not intimidated by the class and background of his opponent.

„Andrej is extremely goaded by the fact that his stable mate and countryman Wladimir Sidorenko became world champion this year [Sidorenko won the WBA bantamweight title on Februrary 22]. Andrej has not forgotten his ultimate goal to win a world title. Another motivation was that he witnessed the defeat of Vivian Harris who many believed would dominate the division. Andrej is prepared and we are confident that we will be able to do our job in England.”

Kotelnik, 24-1 (11), was holding the WBA intercontinental title from 2003 to 2004 and climbed to top-5 positions of the major boxing organizations during that time. However, he dropped a close split decision to Frenchman Souleymane M’baye on October 21, 2004, in Paris in a WBA world title eliminator.

The independent rankings of Boxrec.com list Junior Witter on No. 5. Kotelnik is ranked No. 12.

„Andrej has learned form his defeat against M’baye gelernt“,Timm said. „He didn’t follow our game plan then. Instead he tried to do it his own way. Now he knows: If he wants to win outside Germany he has to do fireworks. On Saturday he’s not only fighting Witters but also the crowd.“