European Boxing News: Erdei, Braehmer, Bonsu, Aydin, Branco, Bundu

By Per Ake Persson

It´s rumored that WBO light heavy champ Zsolt Erdei´s next defence will be in Germany on September 5 and the opponent will none other than Universum stablemate Juergen Braehmer, the current European champ.

Braehmer defends that title June 6 in Oberhausen against Italian Antonio Brancalion and if all goes well – and Juergen is a firm favourite – the last hurdle for a showdown with Erdei should be done with.

Welters Jackson Osei Bonsu and Selcuk Aydin appears now to be on for Istanbul, Turkey, on July 10, with the vacant European title and Aydin´s WBC International belt at stake.

The winner will then have to face Italian veteran Gianluca Branco. Jackson vs. Selcuk is an exciting matchup between a puncher, Osei Bonsu, and a relentless pressure fighter in Aydin.

The undercard to Nicolai Valuev vs. Ruslan Chagaev II on May 30 in Helsinki is getting pretty crowded and two European Union title fights have been added.

Italian Leonard Bundu will defend the welter crown against German Frank Shabani while Finn Juho Tolppola at junior welter will challenge Giuseppe Lauri. As for the Nordic Nightmare, Robert Helenius, born in Sweden but as a fighter raised mainly in Finland, he’ll face Brit Scott Gammer, who represent a step up in class for the 7-0 Helenius.

Gammer has lost three of his last four fights but that has been against Danny Williams, John McDermott and Francesco Pianeta – in that fight Scott quit due to a broken hand at a time in the fight when he seemed to be coming on.

French Muay Thai world champ Jerome LeBanner returns to boxing on May 23 in Deauville. LeBanner went 4-0 back in 1998 and face German Werner Kreiskott, not the toughest of opponents, in his comeback. The show also marks the return for promoter Jean Christophe Courreges, who at one time was a major player on the French scene, promoting among others the Tiozzo brothers.

WBA Intercontinental super middle titleholder Stepjan Bozic will defend the title on July 18 in Ulag, Opponent could be Costa Rican Henry Porras.

Swedish Pugnus Promotions have given up plans for a show in May and one Ingemar Johansson memorial June 27 in Gothenburg. Pugnus however will be back with a big event in September.

Belgian middles Michel Recloux and Jamel Bakhi clash for the vacant national title May 29 in Vise with BCCMG promoting.

Brian Mathiasen Boxing and Risum Boxing join forces for a show June 19 in Horsens, Denmark, headlined by local lightweight Kim Poulsen, who goes for the rather obscure UBO Intercontinental title. Super middle Fawaz Nasir is also on the bill.