20.01.07 – On January 25, in Milan, Salvatore Cherchi’s Opi 2000 and Barry Hearn’s Matchroom Sport will promote a major show at historic the boxing venue Palalido (4.000 seats). In the main event, European light middleweight champion Michele Piccirillo will defend against respected English boxer Micheal “The Destiny” Jones..
Known as “The Gentleman” Michele Piccirillo has a record of 46 wins (29 KOs), 3 losses and 1 no-contest. He is a former IBF and WBU world welterweight champion and has defeated some of the biggest names in Europe and the United States: Cory Spinks, Rafael Pineda, Frankie Randall, Juan Martin Coggi, Felix Victor Vasconcel, and Geoff McCreesh. Piccirillo lost (always on points) to Soren Sondergaard, Cory Spinks and Ricardo Mayorga.
Micheal Jones has a record of 24 wins (10 KOs), 2 losses and won the British Commonwealth and Great Britain light middleweight titles.
On the undercard, Antonio Lauri (28-4-2) will face Andrei Rimer (3-5-1). The fight has the potential to be highly spectacular because Tony “The Ruler” is determined to climb up the EBU rankings and Rimer is the classic brawler who attacks for the entire length of the match and never gives up. He lost four out of five times because he battled much experienced opponents. On March 3, 2006 Rimer was gutsy enough to challenge former European light welterweight and welterweight champion Oktay Urkal (who was 36-3) on the eight rounds distance. According to one judge, Urkal won by just two points.
Former English light welterweight and British welterweight champion Young Muttley (21-2 with 12 KOs), will take on Polish Arek Malek (4-6-2). Muttley is still rememberd for his war against British Commonwealth welterweight champion Kevin Anderson, in Birmingham. On June 1, 2006 Muttley knocked down Anderson during the second round, but was stopped in the tenth.
Also in action two prospects of German boxing: Heavyweight Steffen Kretschmann (3-0, with 3 KOs) and light welterweight Selcuk Aydin (3-0 with 3 KOs) who is nicknamed “Mini Tyson”.
Steffen Kretschmann will face Mihaly Farkas (0-0-1), while the Turkish-born Selcuk Aydin will take on Michal Durovic (4-25-1).
Local middleweight Luciano Lombardi (14-6-3 with 7 KOs) will fight journeyman Attila Kiss (7-37-3).
It has to be noticed that the show was supposed to be a double-header with European light welterweight champion Ted Bami defending against former WBO/WBC world title challenger and European king Gianluca Branco. Last week, Bami injuried his right shoulder and was forced to withdraw from the fight. In the next few days, Bami will inform OPI 2000 about the length of his recovery.
Tickets are priced 60 Euros ($ 78) ringside, 40 Euros ($ 42) central row and 20 Euros ($ 26) for the lateral row. For tickets info visit www.opi2000.com