European Boxing News: Dimitrenko, Sosnowski, Konecny, Chagaev, Balzsay

By Per Ake Persson

Alexander Dimitrenko´s mandatory defence of the European heavyweight title against Albert Sosnowski has now been announced for December 4 (as previously reported) with Schwerin as site.

Dimitrenko, from Ukraine, living in Germany and now a German citizen is making the first defence of the title. It´s announced by Universum that the fight will be televised but not by whom and the undercard is also to be announced.

Lukas Konecny defends the European junior middle December 3 in Prague with Hamlet Petrosyan as opponent. It´s a mandatory defence by the Czech veteran (45-3) of the title he won against Matthew Hall. SES promotes. Petrosyan, 29-6, hails from Armenia but is now based in France.

Universum and Klaus Peter Kohl have reacted strongly to claims that heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev, mandatory challenger for WBA champ David Haye, isn´t fit to box – which he indeed is.

The positive test for hepatitis – the “sleeping kind” – will still most likely prevent Chagaev from fighting in the UK – the likely site for the fight against Haye. Universum however has a point in that the fight could end up elsewhere after purse bids.

Karoly Balzsay has on short notice replaced stablemate Eduard Gutknecht as co-challenger for the vacant European super middle title. Unbeaten Ukrainian Stas Kashtanov is in the other corner. The EBU has set November 19 as deadline for purse bids or agreements. Karoly is on for the Universum show the same evening in Hamburg but no opponent have been announced.