TalkingBoxing News
Sturm, Masoe Heats Up; Nov. 26th Universum Event on Fire
MON November 7 - Two world championships, one world title eliminator, one duel for an intercontinental title between two stable mates and several other top fights are lined up for the Universum Box-Promotion event on November 26 in Leverkusen.
“This is a real sensational evening of boxing”, Jean-Marcel Nartz, member of the Universum management staff, said. “You can call it: Best of the East meets Best of West. All continents with the only exception of Africa will be represented with top fighters.”
This also means a lot of work for Universum top trainers Fritz Sdunek, Michael Timm and Torsten Schmitz.
Main event of the evening is Felix Sturm’s attempt to regain a world title at middleweight. The 26-year-old German is facing hard punching WBA champion Maselino Masoe, 26-2 (25), from New Zealand. Masoe is undefeated for five years and none of his opponents was able to reach the end of the sixth round.
“I’m clearly warned”, Sturm said. “This kind of records have a meaning. And in the most recent past we have seen that you have to be attentive in every tenth of a second. But this is what I want and what I can.”
Second highlight in Leverkusen is the first title defense of WBA bantamweight world champion Wladimir Sidorenko. The skilful technician off the Universum boxing stable won his crown in February from Mexican Julio Zarate by way of unanimous decision. Two scheduled title defenses had to be canceled since then.
“After Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko I am already the third Ukrainian who won a world title in professional boxing”, Sidorenko said. “Now I’m the one who has to represent our country because Vitali is unable to defend his title. The Ukraine is a boxing nation. Perhaps we will soon be the best boxing nation in the world. Besides, I also promise that we will soon get to see another Ukrainian who will fight for a world title.”
Sidorenko’s challenger is Venezuelan Jose de Jesus Lopez, known as the „Matador“. It will be the second world title shot for Lopez, 21-5 (16), who lost to American Eric Morel in June 2001 in a fight for the WBA flyweight title.
Somebody who can earn his second world title shot is German welterweight contender Michel Trabant. The 27-year-old Berliner and former European champion is facing American Mark Suarez in an official IBF world title eliminator for the crown at 147 lb. The winner is set to face world champion and American superstar Zab Judah.
„My experience with world title eliminators is a good one”, Torsten Schmitz said, the reputable of coach of Trabant, who led Luan Krasniqi to a knockout victory over Lance Whitaker in a WBO heavyweight eliminator in May. “He is waiting for this fight for a long time. We will get to see an entirely new ‘Trabi’”, Schmitz promised, who currently also prepares woman boxing star Regina Halmich for her title defense on December 3 in Magdeburg against American Elena Reid.
While several German fighters either compete in world title fights or have to get through eliminator tournaments Jürgen Brähmer, 25-0 (21), wants to prove himself and get in line as well. The highly promising comeback of the undefeated super middleweight contender in October after being out of the ring for three years is ment to be just the beginning.
“Jürgen would most like to fight immediately for a world title”, coach Michael Timm said. “His fitness is impressive and his movements in the ring are fantastic. With Henry Porras he faces an opponent with solid international reputation.”
Porras, 30-5-1 (22), from Costa Rica has been fighting for five different title belts in nine international championships.
Also on the card is a highly explosive duel between two stable mates at super lightweight: Muhammad Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) is taking on Andreas Kotelnik (Ukraine). Abdullaev was stopped in a world title fight against Miguel Cotto in June in New York City due to cut injuries. It was a painful, though pardonable defeat for the 2000 Olympic gold medal champion. One month later his stable mate Kotelink lost to Englishman Junior Witter in a Europen title fight. Kotelniks trainer Timm is still upset: „Andreas was better and he deserved to win a decision.“
„They are both top fighters with excellent technique”, Marcel Nartz commented. “This will be a tidbit for all boxing fans. We will watch this fight with a laughing and a crying eye, because they both belong to our team.”
The duel will be for the WBA intercontinental championship and for a high ranking position.
Peter Heads Star Studded Card, Dec. 15th
MON November 7 - What do you call a boxing event packed with hard-hitting contenders from around the globe putting their fistic careers on the line in a quest for that always-elusive moment of glory? You could call it an early Holiday gift for fight fans.
We call it “Global Warfare”.
On Thursday, December 15th, Warriors Boxing in association with Sampson Lewkowicz, Nafta Moskva and Duva Boxing return to the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida with an evening of world-class professional boxing destined to start your end of year fireworks off early.
In the main event, it’s “The Nightmare before Christmas” as top Heavyweight contender Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter (24-1, 21 KO’s) returns. He is coming off his “Fight of the Year” candidate with Wladimir Klitschko where he had the Russian giant down down 3 times and came within inches of knocking him out! Peter will face rugged Robert Hawkins (21-4, 7 KO’s), from the fighting city of Philadelphia.
And while a main event featuring one of boxing’s rising stars in a tough fight alone is worth the price of admission, Warriors Boxing is just getting started.
In the co-main event, imposing Heavyweight contender Lance “Mount” Whitaker (31-3-1, 26 KO’s), lives up to his desire to fight only the best in the world when he tackles unbeaten 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, Russian bomber Sultan Ibragimov (18-0, 15 KO’s), in a 12-round Title fight that will undoubtedly produce a future challenger for one of the World Champions in boxing’s glamour division.
Also featured will be undefeated Colombian, Junior Welterweight star Juan Urango (16-0-1, 13 KO’s), who looks to carry the momentum from August’s knockout victory over Andre Eason as he defends his WBO and IBF Latino Titles against a former World Champion from Mexico, Cesar Bazan (44-7-1, 29 KO’s). This is a huge step up for this young contender.
“We’ve started a good thing here at the Hard Rock Live Arena, and it’s turning into a snowball effect for the boxing business,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Warriors Boxing. “The fans are showing up in droves, and the fighters are responding in kind by asking for the toughest fights possible. These are the kinds of shows that will help resuscitate this great sport, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
Nigerian-born Samuel Peter (24-1, 21 KOs) needs little introduction to fight fans. Perhaps the most talked about young Heavyweight in the game today, the 25-year-old knockout artist is seen by practically all fight observers as a future world champion. Fresh off his controversial loss decision loss to former World Champion Wladimir Klitschko, Peter gained valuable experience in a bout that will only make this former Olympian more dangerous in the months and years to come.
Blessed with thudding power in both hands and the wisdom that comes from being at or near the top of the Heavyweight division for the better part of the past six years, Lance Whitaker (31-3-1, 26 KOs) finally feels that he is ready to make his run at a world championship in 2006. Winner of his last two bouts by knockout (and four of his last five), California’s Whitaker is in his physical prime as a heavyweight fighter, and that’s bad news for the rest of his peers. Few knew of Heavyweight Sultan Ibragimov when he first started making a name for himself in the division over the last couple of years. After winning the Silver Medal in the 2000 Olympics, Ibragimov has reeled off 18 straight wins, with only three going the distance.
Boxing fans knew Juan Urango before August 26th, and they knew the Colombian junior welterweight was a fighter to watch out for, but after his decisive seventh round stoppage of Andre Eason in a late-summer matchup, ‘Iron Twins’ has become must-see TV for any follower of the sweet science. Ranked in the top ten by three of the four major world sanctioning bodies, Urango is chasing after a world title in 2006, and he’s moving fast.
Tickets are on sale now for “Global Warfare”. They are priced at $150, $100, and $50. For more information please call the Hard Rock Live Box Office at (954) 797.5531 or contact Ticketmaster at (954) 523.3309 in Broward, (305) 358.5885 in Dade, (561) 966.3309 in Palm Beach or visit www.ticketmaster.com.
“Global Warfare” will air live on In Demand Pay-Per-View. Suggested retail price is $19.95. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first bell rings at 7:30pm.
For more information on Warrior’s Boxing, please visit our website at www.warriorsboxing.com.
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