Boxing In Germany: IBF Title Fight In Neubrandenburg Tonight

ByHermann Helmut

Big show tonight at Neubrandenburg’s Jahnsportforum with the vacant IBF middleweight belt and the European Union heavyweight strap on offer.

Ready to rip for Arthur Abraham’s vacanted IBF crown are two-time European kingpin Sebastian “Hurrikan” Sylvester, 31-3 (15), and Giovanni Lorenzo, 27-1 (19).

Greifswald based Sylvester had a shot at the big time last November but failed to lift Felix Sturm’s WBA trophy in a brave 12 round effort and currently holds the IBF International title.

Lorenzo makes the trip all the way from New York, having won an IBF title eliminator by knocking out Dionisio Miranda in two this past February after narrowly losing to Raul Marquez in 2008.

Sylvester will likely pressure Lorenzo as long as the bout lasts but must avoid taking too much punishment on the way in if he is to win a world title.

Lorenzo can’t get caught up in a war with the much shorter German and must box from the outside, maintaining proper distance while wearing out the local man.

The big man go at it on the undercard as Germany based Italian southpaw Francesco Pianeta, 18-0-1 (11), puts his European Union title at risk against English brawler Matt Skelton, 22-3 (19).

Pianeta had a close call last time out against Albert Sosnowski, keeping his EU belt by draw in April, and will likely have his hands full with ex-British and Commonwealth champ Skelton, who was shockingly stopped by Irish hard man Martin Rogan in February.