European Boxing News: Fragomeni, Kraj, Kessler, Bonsu, Hernandez, Ustinov, Klemetsen

By Per Ake Persson

Giacobbe Fragomeni and Rudolf Kraj fight for the vacant WBC Cruiserweight title on October 25 in Milano. In the supporting bout, Italian ladies Simona Galassi and Stefania Bianchini clash again.

Mikkel Kessler vs. Danilo Haussler for the WBA Super middleweight title appears now to be all set for October 25 at Duesseldorf but there is still no official confirmation from Sauerland Event, who promotes the fight but the champ writes on his website, mikkelkessler.com that the fight is on.

Duesseldorf is a bit surprising as venue – it´s far from home for Haussler, who´s had all his major fights in what used to be East Germany.

European Welter champ Jackson Osei Bonsu will defend the title September 13 in Kielce, Poland, against Rafael Jackiewicz – and is still set to make his mandatory defence against Jan Zaveck October 10 in Slovenia.

German-based Cuban cruiser Yoan Pablo Hernandez has been added to the Valuev vs. Ruiz show in Berlin on August 30. Hernandez takes on Marcos Hernandez.

Belorus heavyweight giant Alexander Ustinov faces Brazilian Daniel Bispo in Beijing, China, on August 22. Ustinov is signed to K2 East and this fight is promoted by a Russian support group to the country´s Olympic committee.

The documentary on now retired light heavy Ole Klemetsen, called “Blood and Honour”, goes up on the cinemas in Norway this week and reviews have been very good. Ole and his dad Big John Klemetsen had a colorful and exciting career, first with an exellent amateur career, then as a pro, first with Kronk and Emanuel Steward in the US, then in the UK with Panos Eliades and Frank Maloney, later with Steffen Tangstad and Mogens Palle.

Ole could punch and was a very good talent, but always had a leaky defence and a not so strong chin. All in all, it made for quite a career. Today, Team Klemetsen is the same as a dance hall band on the Norwegian circuit with Big John as singer and front figure.

Danish promoter and manager Robert Larsen has had his licensed revoked by the Danish Federation. Larsen admits to being late with the paperwork but strongly denies any connection with the ongoing feud with Evans Ashira, the African Warrior, who has sent out a number of press releases and in one of th em claims that Larsen´s license is suspended due to this conflict.

Larsen Boxing is behind the planned comeback by Riddick Bowe in Gyor, Hungary, on September 12. Bowe is to fight Hungarian Zoltan Petranyi, who´s also active as promoter, manager and agent.

Larsen Boxing also takes heavyweight Ingvardt Jorgensen to Sweden on September 5, where he is to fight Robert Helenius. A show is in the works on Danish soil later in the fall, possibly with WBO Intercontinental welter champ Christian Bladt headlining.