European Boxing News: Sanavia, Klitschko, Alcine, Ulrich

By Per Ake Persson

Cristian Sanavia defends the European super middle title against German Danilo Haussler on a Sauerland Event promotion. Site is to be announced.

Russian Daniel Peret, who at times fight out of Norway, takes on American heavy prospect Joey Abell on September 15 in Karlstad, Sweden, over four three minute rounds. Peret won’t fight Willi Fischer the week after in Luebeck, but will take on Dutchman Richel Hersisia on September 29 in Soumagne, Belgium, with the vacant WBF Intercontinental title at stake.

Italian heavy Paolo Vidoz has replaced Michael Sprott as co-challenger along with Henry Akinwande for the vacant European Union title.

OPI 2000 won the pursebids to stage European Union light heavy champ Antonio Brancalion´s defence against Hungarian Tamas Popovics. OPI plan to stage the fight in Rovigo, but no date have been announced. The winning bid was however relatively low and it remains to be seen if this one gets off the ground.

Giusppe Lagana and Brazilian Darli Gonzales Pires clash for the IBF Intercontinental 115 lb title September 28 in Campobello di Mazara.

The show in Karlstad, Sweden, September 15 is the first in that town since Aug 20, 1963, when Brit Harry Scott knocked out 12-0 hotshot Bo Hoegberg in the first round. It was rumored, writes Varmlands Folkblad, that then heavy champ Sonny Liston would show up to have talks with the recently retired Ingemar Johansson, but he never did and “Ingo” didn´t come back.

In the co-feature, light heavy Lennart Risberg was stopped by Johnny Halafihi on cuts in the fourth round. All in all, 9000 people attended.

Bruno Zamora defends the Italian 140 lb title against Emanuele De Prophetis October 10 in Nuvolera.

Arena Box Promotion stage a big show at the Estrel Convention Center in Berlin on October 19 headlined by heavies Juan Carlos Gomez, Sinan Samil Sam, Odlanier Solis, Steffen Kretschmann and junior light Yuirorkis Gamboa.

Vitali Klitschko had to cancel his comeback against Jameel McCline, set for Munich on September 22, due to a bad back injury suffered in training. Klitschko had to undergo surgery and will, according to Sportfive, need four to six weeks rehabilitation before he can get back in full training. Vitali speaks of ubelievable bad luck with injuries but that doesn´t seem to be the full story…

WBA junior middle champ Joaquin Alcine could be defending the title against Frenchman Christophe Canclaux November 23 in Montreal. Canclaux just relinquished the European Union crown to concentrate on the shot at a world title.

It will be Spanish light heavy Gabriel Campillo that travels to Ukraine this weekend and fight Vyacheslav Uzelkov for the WBA Intercontinental title. Campillo replaces American Eric Harding. Also added to the bill is light heavy Yuri Barashian, who will challenge European ruler Thomas Ulrich on November 24 in Germany.

Former European middle champ Amin Asikainen plans for a busy fall and will first take on Frenchman Sylvain Touzet over four rounds in Stockholm on September 28 and then headline a show in Helsinki on October 27 that possibly might be for the vacant European Union title.

Co-challenger along with Asikainen is German Alexander Sipos. Russian junior welter Dennis Safikov faces Nico Salzmann in a supporting bout. Juho Tolppola is having problem with an injured leg and might be off the October 27 show and return December 7 instead.

WBF heavy champ Albert Sosnowski from Poland defends the title against Argentinian Manuel Pacheta September 14 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. The fight, in fact the whole show, goes out live in Poland via internet at onet.pl with delayed TV on TVN.

Middleweight “Irish!” John Duddy faces decent Spaniard Pablo Navascues on October 20 in Dublin, on his big homecoming show.
Yuri Romanov´s defence of the European lightweight crown against Italian Stefano Zoff has been rescheduled for October 16, with Minsk still as site.

LA-based undefeated Swedish lightweight Shadi Hamsho will resume his career this fall after a brief break and vacation at home on Malmoe