European Boxing News: Huck, Aydin, Klitschko, Haye, Mormeck, Petrucci, Branco

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

Firat Arslan is sidelined with an injury but European cruiser champ Marco Huck will still defend the titleon May 9 in Bamberg and Sauerland Event will announce the challenger within a few days.

Also on the bill is Alexander Abraham, who will defend the EE-EU title and cruiser Yoan Pablo Hernandez who will face American Aaron Williams. Heavyweight Robert Helenius, cruiser Alexander Frenkel and junior middle Frank Shabani are also on the bill.

Turkish welter Selcuk “Mini-Tyson” Aydin is in Las Vegas training for the defence of the WBC International title against Said Ouali on April 17. While training, the “big” Tyson showed up and shook hands with Aydin.

It´s official: Francois Botha defends the WBF heavyweight title on May 15 in Magdeburg against big German Timo Hoffmann at the Boerdeland Hall with SES promoting.

Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye will go ahead at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on, June 20. The 60,000 seat soccer stadium is the homeground for Schalke 04.

Former cruiser champ Jean Marc Mormeck will move up to heavyweight and is looking for a rematch against David Haye.

The annual Fernand Roelands Memorial on May 1 in Bruges, Belgium, is headlined by local welters Erik Nazarian and Bjorn Fiaert.

The tragic case against German trainer and manager Werner Papke is now apparently at an end with a higher court turning down Papke´s appeal and the original sentence of three and a half years in jail remains. Papke was sentenced for number of offenses including rape against underaged boxers.

Italian welter Daniele Petrucci squares off against Mexican Jose Luis Cruz on May 9 in Rome. Cruz may have seen better days but it´s still a step up in class for Petrucci, 23-0-1.

French middle champ Francois Bastient, 36-6-1, has signed with boxer/promoter Mayhar Monshipour.

Italian veteran Silvio Branco faces Hungarian Roland Horvath on April 10 in Casoria. The 42-year old ex-world champ was to have challenged Adrian Diaconu on the very same day in Rome, but the show was postponed.