European Boxing News: Krasniqi, Skelton, Sam, Khan, Gomez, Virchis

ByBoxing Press

By Per Ake Persson

When Universum´s heavyweight veteran Luan Krasniqi, 30-3-1, pulled out of a possible European title fight against Matt Skelton, there was obviously a plan behind it and in today´s edition of Bild Zeitung, it´s all explained. Universum have applied for another voluntary defence for WBA champ Ruslan Chagaev – against Krasniqi.

The fight, if the WBA gives permission for it, should take place in May at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, hometurf for Luan, who resides in nearby Rottweil. It´s a big chance for the 36-year old veteran and for sure his last; he´s been inactive since losing a WBO eliminator to Tony Thompson. Chagaev´s mandatory challenger is Nikolai Valuev.

Turkish heavy Sinan Samil Sam outscored one Mazur Ali over six this past weekend in Istanbul and is now gearing up to fight for the vacant European title against Skelton. Sam got the chance after Krasniqi pulled out. Luan was first to have taken on Aleksander Dimitrenko, who priced himself out, then Skelton stepped in and now Krasniqi is out, Skelton remains and Sam is in.

Amir Khan, vs Martin Kristjansen is on again, this time for April 5 in Bolton, UK. The fight, a WBO eliminator at lightweight, was originally scheduled for January 30 but the Dane was forced to pull out due to the flu.

It´s all silent about the WBC heavyweight eliminator between Juan Carlos Gomez and Vladimir Virchis. Universum won purse bids on January 14 for the right to stage the fight. First Gomez had internal problem with his promoter, then Virchis pulled out of the original March 8 date. After that it´s been very quiet. Virchis has issued a press release that he is now ready to face Gomez but is worried that no new date has been set by Universum.

Hungarian amateur light heavy Imre Szello, a quarter finalist in the recent World championships in Chicago, has signed with Sauerland Event.

Ukrainian promotional outfit Union Boxing Team have moved their planned April 5 show in Donetsk to March 25 to accomodate TV (EuroSport). Welter Vyacheslav Senchenko defends the WBA Intercontinental title against Pole Slavomir Ziemlewicz. WBC Youth champ Stas Kashtanov make a final (he´s overaged after this) defence of the title against Brazilian Joilson Morais da Silva. WBO Intercontinental junior lightweight titleholder Oleg Yefimovich takes on Spaniard Juan Manuel Garcia Martin.

Gaetano Nespro defends the Italian 160 lb title against Luciano Lombardi February 27 in Monza.

Italian junior welter veteran Gianluca Branco fights German Nico Salzmann on OPI 2000´s show in Milan February 29.

Cruiser Herbie Hide faces Hungarian Joszef Nagy March 11 in Halle an der Saale.

Alexandre Vladimirov defends the IBC International title March 9 on a show in Sofia, Bulgaria, against Swiss Bertrand Bossel.

Local hero Alex Mogylevski faces Alex Litau for the vacant EBO cruiserweight title February 23 in Aachen. The EBO is the European Boxing Organisation, a subtitle – sort of – to GBO, a Munich-based organisation that broke out of the GBA.