European Boxing News: Klitschko, Ibragimov, Kirakosyan, Urkal, Kessler

ByBoxing Press

German daily paper “die Welt” writes that a Wladimir Klitschko vs. Sultan Ibragimov IBF/WBO unification bout is in the works for February 23 in New York.

European junior lightweight champ Leva Kirakosyan defends the title against Sergey Gulyakevich on December 22 in Rome on a OPI 2000 promotion. In the co-features, European flyweight king Andrea Sarritzu will defend his title. European cruiser ruler Giacobbe Fragomeni is also lined up for a defence.

German veteran Oktay Urkal have reluctantly announced his retirement and will now concentrate on a career as a trainer. Urkal lost only in world title fights to the likes of Kostya Tszyuu, Vivian Harris and Miguel Cotto fighting at junior welter and welter. Oktay goes out at 42-4 and over 200 amateur fights in a career that was topped by a Silver Medal in the 96 Olympics.

Belgian Carmelo Ballone and Eugen Sorin Tanasie from Romania will fight for the vacant European bantam title December 14 in La Louviere.

Next up for Danish cruiser Anders Hugger could be a spot on the undercard to Cantatore vs stable- and sparmate Johny Jensen on December 14 in Rome.

Natascha Ragosina takes on Akondaye Fountain on December 15 in Dessau when she goes for a fifth belt – WBC – to her collection that already includes WBA, WIBA, GBU and WIBF, all at super middle.

Stories on that former WBA and WBC super middle champ Mikkel Kessler had some kind of hand injury that prevented him from sparring in the final three weeks leading up to the fight against Joe Calzaghe are apparently true.

Croatian middle Vedran Akrap and Ukrainian Andrei Shimanski clash for the vacant EE-EU title December 21 in Zagreb.

The former bad boy of German boxing, Graciano Roccigiani, have been released from jail from his latest sentence due to good behaviour. “Rocky” will now concentrating on training fighters. Every year – for a few years more – there´s reportedly a hefty check coming in from the WBC – said to be far from the court ordered sum but still not bad.