European Boxing News: Kessler, Sartison Make Weight In Copenhagen

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

Mikkel Kessler weighed in at a perfectly fit 76.1 kg/167.75 lb for tonight´s WBA title fight in Copenhagen against Dmitri Sartison, who came in at 75.9 kg/167.25 lb.

Sartison looked smaller though, both in height and weight, as the two had a short staredown and then smiled for the cameras. The WBA have ordered the winner to face Danilo Haussler inside 120 days with a 60-40 split of the purse in case Kessler wins and 50-50 if Sartison should pull of a huge upset.

Team Palle will appeal but it appears that Sauerland Event stands firmly behind getting Haussler a shot at world title. On paper, Kessler vs. Haussler shapes up as a huge mismatch, this said with all the respect in the world to Danilo, a strong, brave warrrior.

Lolenga Mock, reigning European Union champ at super middle, is off the show. Mock has an offer from Sauerland Event to face European titleholder Karo Murat later in the summer.

WBA heavy king Ruslan Chagaev is sparring with three very tall sparring partners in Evgeny Orlov, Julius Long and Raymond Olubowale in preparation for his July 5 title defence against Nikolai Valuev. Larry Donald is also helping out.

Swedish heavy Attila Levin continues his comeback on July 25 in Kissimee, Florida. Opponent is likely to be Gabe Brown. The fight will be televised in the US by Telemundo and in Sweden by TV 4. Levin will then fight a four rounder under the special Swedish rules in Karlstad on September 5.

K2 East stage a show billed as “Tornado in the Ring” on July 5 in Odessa with two WBA Intercontinental titles on top featuring middleweight Avtandil Khurtsidze and cruiser Vitaliy Rusal.

Turkish heavy Sinan Samil Sam is training at home in Ankara with, among others, Herbie Hide and Henry Akinwande for his European title fight against Paolo Vidoz on July 4. Cuban Odlanier Solis prepares in Cologne with new trainer Orlando Cuellar for his fight against Fransois Botha.

Frenchman Olivier Schaeffer, 1-1 in the pros, has passed away in a tragic car accident on June 14 reports the national federation.

Calls for a ban on professional boxing in Denmark can be heard in the aftermath of the sad affair with former European cruiser champ Johny Jensen. At the same time there seems to be no info on what kind of injuries Jensen suffers from. Media describes him as “brain damaged” but that is a very loose term, even for us laymen. Exactly what is wrong with Jensen and what caused it remains to be determined.

Polish cruiser veteran Wojicech Bartnik faces Ukrainian Oleksandr Geraschenko on June 28 in Sanok. On the undercard, two Swedish amateur stars – Akilles Adnan and Karlo Tabagoua – turn pro.