European Boxing News: Klitschko, Peter, Pozo, Blanco, Gomez, Monrose, Kentikian
By Per Ake Persson
It´s on – at least according to Bild Zeitung: Vitali Klitschko vs Samuel Peter for the WBC Heavyweight title October 4 at the brand new O2 World Arena in Berlin.
If brother Wladimir makes it as well, as have been hinted, depends on the results of Satuday´s showdown against Tony Thompson. But if Wladimir wins and and don´t get injured, we might see Wladimir vs Alexander Povetkin as co-headliner in front of 17,000 fans.
Vitali has attempted to come back twice now and been injured both times, and as he was also forced to retire due to injuries, so there are of course big question marks this time as well around his comeback.
Spanish flyweight Ivan Pozo, a loser to WBO champ Omar Narvaez in May, returns July 15 in Vigo and faces Brazilian Darli Goncalves for the WBO Intercontinental title. Bantam Franklin Theran co-headlines along with super bantam Kiko Martinez.
Spanish feather Sergio Blanco won a wide unanimous decision over Ukrainian Oleg Yefimovich last night on Donetsk to win the vacant European title. At welter, Vyacheslav Senchenko got by Frenchman Frederik Klose by a very close ma rgin. All three judges had it 115-113 for Senchenko. In the third headliner, Stanislav Merdov stopped fellow Ukrainian Yuri Voronin in the ninth of an EE-EU title fight.
Cuban heavy Juan Carlos Gomez is back in Hamburg. Gomez is likely to face Vladimir Virchis in a WBC eliminator September 27 in Stuttgart – although both date and site have yet to be officially confirmed.
Gomez was banned from attending Wladimir Klitschko´s public workout today in Hamburg. There´s reportedly a lot of tension between Gomez, his promoter Ahmet Oener and the Klitschko team, including their personal representative Bernd Boente, who at one time was press spokesman for Universum while all four – Gomez, Oener and the Klitschkos – fought for Universum.
The postponed defence of European Cruiser champ Jean Marc Monrose against Merick Roberge will now go ahead September 18.
WBA and WIBF Flyweight queen Susianna Kentikian headlines Spotlight Boxing´s show in Duesseldorf August 30. Kentikian defends her titles against Israelian Hagar Finer, who, under the name of Shmoulefeld ,has given several German stars, including Regina Halmich, a lot of problems. The show will also feature junior light Vitali Tajbert and middleweight Sebastian Zbik – both=2 0are coming off impressive wins Saturday night in Halle / Westfalen.
The undercard to Klitschko vs. Thompson and Baysangurov vs. Gontsa July 12 at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg features Kronk´s cruiser Jonathon Banks in an IBO title fight against Italian Vincenzo Rossitto. Belorus heavyweight giant Alexander Ustinov faces Livin Castillo. Kronk also brings in heavyweight debutant Nathan James. K2 use the GBO, German Boxing Organisation, to supervise it´s shows on German soil.