European Boxing News: Bonsu, Sylvester, Brahmer, Akinwande

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

European welter champ Jackon Osei Bonsu, one most exciting fighters in Europe right now, defends the title against Frenchman Brice Faradji January 12 at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp.

Purse bids for European middle champ Sebastian Sylvester´s mandatory defence against WBA # 1 challenger Javier Castillejo will now not take place until January 28, 2008. This means Finn Amin Asikainen, EBU # 1, will be kept waiting. Sylvester will make a voluntary defenceof the title January 26 in Berlin against Francois Bastient in a supporting bout to the IBF heavyweight eliminator between Eddie Chambers and Alexander Povetkin.

Hungarian cruiser Gyorgi Hidvegi defends the WBF title December 15 in Dessau on the same bill as female multiple champ Natascha Ragosina looks to add a fifth belt to her collection.

Belgian Ismail Abdoul headlines the annual December 25 show in Izegem. Abdoul, normally a cruiser but with his best weight at light heavy, looks to win the vacant national title at heavyweight before going away on a lengthy “vacation” – Abdoul have as previously been reported been sentenced to several years in jail.

German super middle Jurgen Brahmer faces another trial, writes Bild Zeitung. Brahmer is accused of assaulting a man in Schwerin in June of 2006. The WBO # 1 is still on probation from his last prison term and another sentence could put him a long way back.

The 16 fighters that will participate in the French version of the Contender have now been announced and include relatively big names such as Morrade Hakkar, Thierry Karl, Pierre Moreno and Denis Saioni. The “Grand Tournoi” begins January 24 with two contests and continues all through the spring and fall with the “Finale de Grand Tornoi” set for December 11, 2008.

The Henry Akinwande-Steve Herelius clash for the vacant European Union heavyweight title have been set for February 19. Site tba in France with Gerhard Teysseron´s EuroProm staging the fight.

French welter Issa Hamza defends the WBF title December 14 in Yaoundé, Cameroons, against Uruguayan Ruben Francisco Silva Diaz. Hamza is managed by former world champ Thierry Jacob.

HammerKnockout Promotions in Poland promotes in Rzeszow December 15 with ligh theavy Dawid Kostecki taking on veteran Mukadi Manda on top. At cruiser former IBF champ Krzysztof Wlodarczyk squares off against Aloyri Mensah.