European Boxing News: Chagaev, Romanov, Harding, Ragosina

By Per Ake Persson

WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is back in full training, writes Universum in a press release, after the stomach problems that caused the cancellation of the unification fight with WBO titlist Sultan Ibragimov. Chagaev hopes to be able to make a title defence before the end of the year. Exactly what was the problem with Chagaev was never really disclosed and there´s been plenty of rumors flying.

European lightweight champ Yuri Romanov is sidelined with the flu and his planned defence September 29 in Minsk against Italian veteran Stefano Zoff is postponed.

Italian Lorenzo Di Giacomo, up from middleweight, is along with Dane Mads Larsen, co-challenger for the vacant European Union title at super middle. Larsen´s next fight is scheduled for October 27, possibly in Erfurt, but it remains to be seen if it will be against Di Giacomo.

Ukrainian super middle Vitaly Tsypko faces Russian Devi Gogiya September 29 in Oldenburg on the undercard to Nickolai Valuev vs. Jean Bergeron.

It seems like the European External European Eunion title fight at junior middle between champ Ivan Gontsa and challenger Roman Dzuman that is scheduled for September 13 is still on. The winner is likely to get a shot at European champ Zauerbek Baysangurov November 17 in Kiev. However, it doesn´t seem as if Eric Harding will make to Kiev as it appears his travel documents aren´t in order.

The promoters are currently working on getting a substitute and it could be that Robert Allen is the one. There will also be a closer collaboration with National Boxing Promotion and the Klitschko brothers´ company K2 and we might see a new company, K2 East Promotions.

Natascha Ragosina, WIBF, GBU and WBA female champ at super middle, will now face Dominican Gardy Pena September 8 in Berlin. Pena replaces Kenyan Conjestina Achieng. The vacant WIBA belt is also at stake.

Norwegian boxing fan Tron Jensen has put down a big job on ex-pros from Norway and the result is up at boxrec.com. Check out the likes of Roy Askvold, Harald Svendsen or Tore Magnussen and you´ll find a piece of boxing history with small reports from just about every fight a Norwegian pro had in the 60´s and 70´s.