European Boxing News: Klitschko, Thompson, Baysangurov, Drews, Branco, Larsen, Erdei

By Per Ake Persson

IBF, WBO and IBO Heavy Champ Wladimir Klitschko weighed in 109.3 kg / 241 lb at yesterday’s chaotic weigh-in at a major shopping center in Hamburg, Germany that took place at noon.

Challenger Tony Thomnpson came in at 247.5 lb / 112.3 kg. Thompson didn´t take of his shirt, which led to some speculation that he had something to hide – but I was told that yesterday evening at 10 PM, he worked out hard and impressively in the gym at the Maritim Hotel.

The rest of the undercard fighters were to weigh in at this place later in the day, but exacly when seemed to be up in the air and everybody except for the people involved seemed to miss it. For the record both, European Junior Middle Champ Zauerbek Baysangurov, for the first time billed as fighting out of Chechnia, and challenger Ivan Gontsa both scaled 69.5 kg / 153.25 lb.

Ukrainian light heavy Yuri Barashian didn´t just lose a WBA title fight to Hugo Hernan Garay recently, he was also, in accordance of the rules, stripped of the European title which now will be contested between Stipe Drews and Silvio Branco.

Danish super middle Mads Larsen will have what Sauerland Event hopes is a final tuneup in the early fall and then challenge for a major title. Details will be announced once the main bouts and shows have been set.

Purse20bids for the Nikolai Valuev vs John Ruiz WBA Heavyweight title bout, and Mikkel Kessler vs Danilo Haussler for the WBA Super Middle title, have been postponed until July 21.

WBO are, in their newsletter, hinting at a Zsolt Erdei vs Jurgen Brahmer showdown. Erdei has been asking for a big fight for a long time while Brahmer moved up to light heavy to get one – and here it is: a natural, both are signed to Universum and this fight is hopefully on already this fall.