European Boxing News: Shafikov, Asikainen, Gomez, Klitschko, Gulyakevich

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

Russian junior welter Dennis Shafikov, 16-0, faces former WBA Lightweight Champ Raul Balbi from Argentina in a non-title ten-rounder on P3 Boxing´s big show at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki on November 28 in what should be an interesting fight.

Headlining the bill is “Idi” Amin Asikainen against Khoren Gevor for the vacant European title. Heavies Sami Elovaara and Juho Haapoja clash for the national crown. Also on the bill are junior welter prospects Ville Piispanen and Edis Tatli.

Juan Carlos Gomez calls out for Vitali Klitschko in no uncertain terms in a press release from Arena Box Promotion. Gomez was, as he says, already an established star by the time Vitali and his brother Wladimir arrived to Universum in Hamburg where also Arena boss Ahmet Oener plugged away as a pro with the Klitschko´s current personal manager Bernd Boente later joining Universum as press spokesman.

Today Vitali is back on top as WBC champ with Juan Carlos, a former WBC cruiser champ, as mandatory challenger. Gomez should be too small for the big heavyweights but can fight at level we don´t see many heavies of today do – just check Samuel Peter´s performance against Vitali. Klitschko looked indeed good but the Nigerian Nightmare was right there for him.

French super middle veteran Pierre Moreno faces local hero Nikola Sjekloca on October 18 in Budva, Montenegro, with WBC´s Mediterranean title at stake. French amateur star Jerome Thomas won´t, as previously planne d, participate in the World Military championships. Instead, he will make his pro debut November 20 in St Quentin.

It looks like the Swedish Federation will go for it and apply to the Martial Arts Delegation for international standards in professional boxing. As it is now, we´re stuck with a max distance of 12 minutes to be divided in either four threes or six twos. This is fine for beginners, but just don´t work for seasoned pros.

Spotlight Boxing have today announced a big show in Halle an der Saale on December 5 with Sergey Gulyakevich vs Vitali Tajbert for the European junior light title, WBA and WIBF fly queen Susi Kentikian, middle Sebastian Zbik and heavyweight Sebastian Koeber headlining.