03.05.06 – By Per Ake Persson: WBA 160 lb champ Felix Sturm is likely to defend the title for the first time sometime in July. It´s rumored that Universum are having talks with ex-WBC jr middle ruler Javier Castillejo as opponent, who is also the mandatory challenger for EBU champ Sebastian Sylvester. No comments from either Universum nor Rimer Box though….
French fly Brahim Asloum returns to action July 15 in Le Cannet along with supermiddle Jackson Chanet. This show could – as previously reported – include WBA lightheavy champ Fabrice Tiozzo as well but doors are apparently still open for a showdown with WBO ruler Zsolt Erdei, who of course must win on Saturday in Duesseldorf against Paul Murdoch.
Mike Tyson will not be visiting Sweden for the big K 1 show in Stockholm May 20 as was previously announced. Tyson was to have refereed the fight between Francois Botha and Jorgen Kruth. Instead K 1 Scandinavia will use Ray Sefo. On the bill is another ex-pro boxer in Brit Pele Reid. This may be one of the last K 1 shows promoted in Sweden and takes place at the 14 000-seater the Globe. The Parliament votes on the new Martial Arts law May 30 and if it passes K 1 as it looks internationally will be ruled as “not safe”.
French cruiser champ Kamel Amrane defends against Jean Marc Monrose June 1.
Ex-EBU fly champ Jesper D Jensen could be taking over as president for the Danish Federation at their annual meeting May 30.
Swedish welter Vatche Wartanian, fresh off two wins in Germany, is sidelined with a small cut and an injured nose and will be off the next Elite Boxing show June 2 in Potsdam. Also off is lightheavy Mathias Kempe, who was cut on the nose in his win over Richard Remen.
Pro Boxing Austria stage a small pro/am show in Kufstein May 6 topped by Chilean jr welter Freddy Chura.
The Amin Asikainen vs Christophe Tendil EU 160 lb titlefight in Helsinki on Friday May 5 is the first EBU affiliated titlefight in Finland since Pekka Kokkonen vs Piero Del Papa in 67. It´s staged at very same Kisahalli, only the smaller version, were Floyd Patterson and others won Gold medal in the 52 Olympics.