European Boxing News: Carrera, Castillejo, Kessler, Zam Zam

By Per Ake Persson

Spanish website espabox.com writes that the rematch between ex-WBA middleweight champs Mariano Carrera and Javier Castillejo will go ahead November 13 in Germany and not October 20 on the Sturm vs Griffin show in Halle / Westfalen.

WBA and WBC super middle champ Mikkel Kessler is now sparring with Brit Darren Barker in Copenhagen. Neither Barker or former sparmate Peter Haymer are southpaws like Joe Calzaghe, but the lefthanders are coming to town next week.

German middle Alexander Sipos lost a lot this past Friday night in Luebeck, losing an Internationall German title fight to unheralded champ Roman Aramian. With this, a shot at the European Union title and a rematch with Finn Amin Asikainen went out the window as well. Aramian won´t replace Sipos, as he is from a non-EU country – Armenia, although he´s been based in Germany throughout his professional career.

New Danish promoter Robert Larsen show in Gladsaxe will also feature Hungarians Zoltan Petranyi and Adrian Rajkai. Petranyi, national heavy champ, was Larsen´s manager when the Dane attempted to fight professionally – a career that was cut short due to injuries.

Danish junior middle Reda Zam Zam´s nose injury will keep him idle for longer than expected. Reda had hopes for a spot on the Kessler vs Calzaghe show on November 3 but they are now gone.

Big Cuban heavy Pedro Carrion, based in Berlin with Wiking Box Team, will face Goran Gogic on Arena´s big show in Berlin October 19. It´s a rematch, Carrion won the first time around but Gogic has produced some good results of lately. Swedish heavy Aldo Colliander is also on the bill.

Once touted Ukrainian heavy Alexei Mazikin is looking to rebound from the 43 second blowout against Odlanier Solis in June in Turkey with a six-rounder in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on September 27.

Cruiser Enad Licina squares off against tough Belgian Ismail Abdoul on the undercard to Valuev vs Bergeron September 29 in Oldenburg. Croatian heavy Mario Preskar is in against South African Miyan Solomons.