17.05.05 -On May 28 Luan Krasniqi, 27-1-1 (13), can settle things for his first world title shot by beating American giant Lance Whitaker, 29-2-1 (24), at Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle of Suttgart, Germany. Should Krasniqi be victorious he’ll be the official challenger for the title of the World Boxing Organization. The WBO crown is currently held by Lamon Brewster who makes a defense this Saturday, May 21, against Polish longtime contender Andrew Golota..
The Brewster-Golota winner will have to face the Krasniqi-Whitaker winner later this year.
On the undercard in Stuttgart several interesting contests will go ahead. Among them three fights at heavyweight and two woman world title bouts.
Undefeated prospect Alesia Graf, 10-0 (4), will get her first world title shot against Jamaican Alicia Ashley, 11-5-1 (1), in a contest for the GBU bantamweight crown. Ashley recently knocked out Elena Reid (TKO7) who could impress last year by interrupting the winning streak of longtime world championesse Regina Halmich with a split decision draw over ten rounds.
In another woman world title fight Silke Weickenmeier, 19-3-3, will defend her GBU jr. featherweight crown against American based Japanese Miki Kikukawa, 6-4. For the 25-year-old German it will be her eleventh world title fight.
The complete fightcard of Stuttgart will feature four heavyweight clashs. Beside the Krasniqi-Whitaker eliminator another highly prominent heavyweight contender will climb through the ropes: Former world champion Juan Carlos Gomez, 38-1 (32), will face Brazilian Jorge Arias, 34-7 (22), in his second fight this year. The 32-year-old Cuban held the WBC cruiserweight world title from 1998 to 2002.
In a clash of two stable mates undefeated Russian Valery Chechenev, 7-0 (6), will take on Rumanian Konstantin Onofrei, 19-2 (13). For Chechenev it’s a significant test and a stepping stone. Things are even more serious for Onofrei for who a loss could mean the end of his career after he had already been stopped by Taras Bidenko last December.
In the fourth heavyweight duel 24-year-old Bagrat Ohanyan, 5-0 (4), is fighting Ali Saidi, 13-6-4 (8).
Also on the undercard: Flyweight contender Julia Sahin, 9-0 (2), and cruiserweight contender Firat Arslan, 22-3-1 (15).