Boxing News: Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler Super Fight Nearly Signed

By Per Ake Persson

The Mikkel Kessler vs Joe Calzaghe megafight is now close to a deal reports both Team Palle and Danish newsagency Ritzau. It appears that Team Palle have accepted all demands from Sports Network with further details being worked out. One obstacle might be the date: Team Palle wants it in November to celebrate Mogens Palle´s 50 years in boxing while Frank Warren wants it in September.

European super middle champ Cristian Sanavia has Brit Carl Froch as mandatory challenger. Froch is already looking past Sanavia and eyes Mikkel Kessler in a showdown in the spring of 2008.

Cuban heavy Juan Carlos Gomez says he´s looking for Nikolai Valuev and then WBA king Ruslan Chagaev once he´s past Russian Denis Bahktov on Saturday in Ankara. Gomez holds wins over both Sinan Samil Sam and Oliver McCall who headlines the Ankara show but blew it all due to a positive doping test. Gomez is now trained by ex-pro Owen Reece.

It appears that Khoren Gevor and Universum are more interested than previously believed in fighting IBF middle champ Arthur Abraham. Gevor, # 5 in the IBF ratings, is the highest available challenger. Should Gevor pass, Australian Sam Soliman will get the chance.

Jean-Marcel Narz celebrates his 250th show as “technical delegate” at Universum´s show in Budapest on Saturday. Narz began his career in 1978 and then joined promoter Wilfried Sauerland in 1980 and was instrumental as matchmaker for Sauerland during the buildup of German stars such as Rene Weller, Manfred Jassmann, Graciano Rocchigiani, Henry Maske, Axel Schulz, Sven Ottke and many others.

In 2001 Narz left Sauerland for Universum and is now more involved with the promotion than the matchmaking. He is still a German mr Boxing though with a vast knowledge on boxing history, German and international.

Polish cruiser Pawel Kolodziej headlines Hammer Knockout´s promotion in Slupsk July 7 and will defend the WBC Youth title. Welter Rafael Jackiewicz and jr welter Krzysztof Bienias are featured in the chief supports.

German heavy Francesco Pianeta have a lot of talent but anyone who saw him struggle against Italian journeyman Paolo Ferrara, a tough journeyman better suited for cruiser, could tell there were problems as he looked lucky to get the decision. For his fight June 23 in Zwickau against South African Miyan Solomons Pianeta have finally headed the advice from matchmaker Hagen Doering and is now training at the Sauerland headquarters in Berlin.

Don King Productions have signed up WBC Youth champ at jr middle Zapir Gereev and IBF Youth ruler at lightweight Rene Mahling. Both 20-year olds are been fighting out of Germany with a GBA license.