European Boxing News: Sauerland, Valuev, Lauri, Shafikov, Jack

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

Sauerland has, according to Bild Zeitung in Germany, signed a million euro deal with promoters in Abu Dhabi, part of the wealthy United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf. The deal is for three years, with the first show likely to be staged in December. Nikolai Valuev might be headlining if he is back and ready by then after long layoff due to injuries.

Wilfried Sauerland tells Bild they have exclusive rights to promote boxing there and that there is 45,000 seat indoor arena that is perfect for big boxing events. Also in the deal is a long term plan to develop local amateur boxing.

Sauerland´s small Sweden vs Denmark tournament that was set for April 2 in Herning fell apart apart almost as it was announced as Swedish welter Kamran Kabinejad fell and injured himself seriously – dislocated shoulder and broken collarbone – while skiing with his family this past weekend. No word yet on a possible replacement but the guess from this corner is for someone from outside of Sweden.

Artur Hein will now take on Francesco Versaci April 2 in Halle / Westfalen on the Huck vs Fragomeni show. Hein – Versaci is for the vacant European Union light heavyweight title and was first set for March 5 in Copenhagen.

Italian veteran Giuseppe Lauri, these days mainly a trainer and manager residing in Budapest, is co-challenger for the vacant European junior welter title along with touted Russian Denis Shafikov. The EBU has set 28 February as deadline for purse bids.

Las Vegas-based Swedish super middle Badou Jack makes his US debut February 28 in San Bernardino, CA. Jack is an amateur standout, 5-0 in pros and is now promoted by Empire and trained by Eddie Mustapha Muhammad.

Belgian lightweight Jean Pierre Bauwens retained the WBC Youth International title Sunday afternoon in Antwerp with a sixth round stoppage of outclassed Georgian Beka Sedjaia, who never went down but took a steady beating from the fourth round onwards. In the sixth referee Daniel Van De Wiele had seen enough and stopped it. Veteran cruiser Ismail Abdoul stopped Hungarian Joszef Nagy in the second.