European Boxing News: Dzuman, Aydin, Hide, De Martinis, Haussler, Mercer, Sturm

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

It will be Ukrainian jr middle Roman Dzuman that takes on Alexander Abraham for the vacant EE-EU title on the undercard to Kessler vs Haussler on Saturday in Oldenburg. Cruiser Yoan Pablo Hernandez fights experienced American Michael Simms.

WBC Int´l welter champ Selcuk Aydin headlines Arena Box Promotion´s show November 18 in Istanbul. Aydin face Said Ouali, born in Morocco but fighting out of Las Vegas. Also on the bill are heavies Steffen Kretschmann and Konstantin Airich as well as middleweight Lion Mahir.

WBC Int´l cruiser champ Herbie Hide could be defending the title in Ekaterinburg, Russia, December 5 against Grigorz Drozd but it is also depending on the outcome of Rudolf Kraj vs Giacobbe Fragomeni for the vacant WBC title October 24 and the result of the WBC convention in China. Hide could get a shot at the winner directly but there´s also the possibility of a final eliminator against Drozd.

Italian welter Cristian De Martinis have signed with Belgian manager Jean Diadori and takes on trialhorse Christian Frias November 1 in Izegem.

“Mr Haussler, are you tired of life?” read the headline in a German tabloid hinting at Danilo Haussler´s chances against WBA supermiddle ruler Mikkel Kessler. Interviewed in a Sauerland press release Haussler claims he don´t care at all about what is written and that Calzaghe showed that Kessler have his weaknesses. Well, no-one´s perfect but mr Haussler, as brave as he is, isn´t the one to expose any vulnerabilities Kessler may have.

Former heavy champ “Merciless” Ray Mercer could be heading back to Sweden for a fight in Norrkoping November 21. The show is promoted by Champions Promotions headed by famous artist Soren Nicklasson and former WBU lightweight champ George Scott, who also trains some of the fighters in the team.

You might say it´s heating up between WBA middle champ Felix Sturm and challenger Sebastian Sylvester for the big fight in Oberhausen November 1. There´s less than 1000 tickets left (the Koenig Pilsener Arena seats about 7000) and the press conference on Monday is billed as “High Noon”. It´s the first all German titlefight in eight years.

The WBC eliminator at welter between Jackson Osei Bonsu and Carlos Baldomir is now rumored to be on again and this time for December 20 with site remaining Antwerp. Osei Bonsu lost the EBU title to Rafael Jackiewicz in September but returned October 13 in Amsterdam with a points win over Romanian Gheorghe Danut but is said to have struggled.