Boxing News Boxing News
Carl Johanneson puts everything on the line this Friday when he challenges European super featherweight ruler Leva Kirakosyan on a Frank Maloney promotion at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England.
28 year old British Champion Johanneson, 28-2 (18), has only lost twice in a seven year pro career and one of those was to Kirakosyan, who needed only a single round to KO the Leeds based pressure artist in London on December 12, 2004.
Johanneson has gone on to win his last eight contests and all but one by stoppage, including a British title victory and two defenses, but has longed to burn Kirakosyan in the flames of revenge ever since.
While Johanneson has stopped three top domestic operators, Ricky Burns, Femi Fehintola and Billy Corcoran, over the last year, Friday’s contest represents a much greater degree of risk.
Kirakosyan, 25-4 (16), is riding an 11 bout win streak since narrowly failing to KO former British champion Michael Gomez during a loss in 2004 and joins world champions Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter as the only fighters to stop two-time former European light welter challenger Giuseppe Lauri over the course of a still active 48 fight career.
Based in Spain, the 33 year old Armenian slugger has also gone the distance with ex-IBF light welter champion Juan Urango and has promised another succsessful British excursion, vowing to knock out the smaller Johanneson once again.
For his part, Johanneson has steadfastly maintained the disaster against Kirakosyan over three years ago was a fluke and must turn the tables on his bitter rival if he is to realize the dream of competing for a world title in the highly contested super featherweight division.
Chief support at the Metrodome in Barnsley features one of Britain’s top prospects, Sheffield’s John Fewkes, 14-0 (2), stepping way up to challenge the highly seasoned former European super feather champ Tontcho Tontchev, 37-5 (21) of Bulgaria over eight rounds.
Also on is a rematch of a highly competitive April bout between middleweights Patrick J. Maxwell, 13-1-1 (10), and Geard Ajetovic, 13-1-1 (6). Maxwell hasn’t lost in six years while Ajetovic is coming off a shocking victory over the far more experienced IBF Intercontinental super middle champ Robert Roselia in May.
Frank Maloney Promotions presents “The Ultimate Quest for Revenge” at the Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley on Friday, July 13, 2007. Tickets are priced at £70 and £35 and are available by logging onto www.frankmaloney.com or by calling the Box Office at 0871 226 1508. The fight is also televised live on Sky TV. For any further press information please call 0208 6914165.
Press Release composed by Curtis McCormick for www.frankmaloney.com
