European Boxing News: Vester, Lewele, Erdei, Beyer, Sam

By Per Ake Persson

Danish cruiser Anders Hugger Nielsen, 9-0, headlines Team Palle´s first show of the year March 14 in Odense when he takes on American Louis Azille, 19-4-2, for the vacant IBA Intercontinental title. It´s a step up in class for Hugger, who in his fights this far has shown promise, but also a leaky defence. There will in all be six fights on the show and two more title fights to be announced.

American heavy Joey Abell returns to Sweden and will headline Pugnus Boxing Promotion´s show in Gothenburg March 27. Abell faces Croatian Ivica Perkovic in what is a puncher vs spoiler clash, sadly over six-two minute rounds – the special Swedish rules for professional boxing will remain for at least this year.

Welter Isam Khalil and light heavy Julian Ilie are also scheduled to fight. Also on the bill is Dane Allan Vester, who is also set to headline his father Anders´ show in Aarhus April 4.

Arena Box Promotion are back in Turkey and stage a show in Trabzon April 25 with welter Selcuk Aydin headling. Aydin squares off against South African Lucky Lewele in WBC International title fight. Lewele beat another Arena fighter, Alpaslan Aguzum, but then lost to Bongani Mwelase. A defence by Mwelase against Aydin didn´t materialize and eventually he was stripped so Aydin vs. Lewele is for the vacant title. Aydin fights Farkad Bakirov March 14 in Munich.

Spanish website espabox.com writes that WBO fly champ Omar Narvaez will defend the title against Ivan Pozo April 11 in Vigo.

Norwegian junior welter Geir Inge Jorgensen knocked out Romanian Robert Andrei Florin, a very soft touch, in the first round Feb 26 in Beograd, Serbia. The win set up a possible WBF title fight for Geir Inge, who now may face Italian Alfredo Di Feto late April, also in Serbia.

WBO light heavy champ Zsolt Erdei´s next defence will now take place sometime in May. The original working date was April 26 but it´s never been confirmed by Universum.

Hungarian cruiser Joszef Nagy wasn´t accepted by TV as a big enough “name” for Herbie Hide March 11 in Halle / Saale. In comes instead German veteran Ruediger May.

Ex-WBC super middle champ Markus Beyer returns March 14 in Munich. Opponent will be Russian Murat Mahmudov, once a capable fighter on the rise. How much he has left remains to be seen, but he should have enough left to make Markus work hard for a win.

Cuban heavy Odlanier Solis faces American veteran Bruce Seldon. Sinan Samil Sam defends the WBC Mediterranean title against Ratko Draskovic. On the undercard once touted light heavy Kai Kurzawa looks to get his career back on track against Armin Dollinger.