European Boxing News: Stieglitz, Miranda, Menzer, Zaveck, Ragosina

By Per Ake Persson

It´s official: WBO super middle champ Robert Stieglitz defends the title January 9 at the Boerdeland Hall in Magdeburg, Germany, against Edison Miranda.

It´s a tought first defence for Robert and an exciting matchup between two fighters who promised a lot early on, came close but failed at the highest level – even if Stieglitz beat Karoly Balzsay to win a world title he still lost first to Alejandro Berrio in an attempt to win the IBF title and got stopped by Librado Andrade in a IBF eliminator.

Miranda got partly robbed, partly blew it himself in the first fight against Arthur Abraham and it´s been downhill since until recently when he relocated to California to be trained by Joe Goossen. He´s co-promoted by Goossen Tutor and Warriors.

The show in Magdeburg is a co-promotion between SES and Universum with the main bouts televised by ZDF.

In the co-feature female feather Ina Menzer defends her three world titles against Ramona Kuehne.

For SES it means they have three fighters in world title fights inside a month: December 11 Jan Zaveck challenges IBF welter champ Isaac Hlatswayo in Johannesburg. Dec 19 in Ekaterinburg Natascha Ragosina fights for the WIBF heavyweight title and then Stieglitz vs. Miranda January 9.

Kessler vs. Ward: Not that it matters but the WBA and California commission made a mistake in the scoring of Ward vs Kessler: the eleventh should had been scored as well. And it´s mistake they are aware of and it´s up to the CA commission to correct it but this far it hasn´t happend.

Andre Ward´s status should according to a WBA official be that of a WBA “super champ” with Dimitri Sartison as WBA “regular” champ.

In regards of Kessler the commission reports reads: “Doc has to OK both eyes and right cheek or suspended 60 days”. Kessler may fight Carl Froch on March 6.