20.03.07 – By Per Ake Persson: German paper Bild writes that the rematch between heavies Luan Krasniqi and former WBO champ Lamon Brewster is in the works for July 15 in Hamburg. Brewster scored a come from behind victory over Krasniqi in 05 in Hamburg to retain the title. Arena Box Promotion put on a staggering 17 professional boxing matches on their two shows March 24 in Hamburg with a six-fight bill where comebacking Croatian jr middle Ante Bilic, formerly with Spotlight Boxing, will face Michael Shubov..
Swedish heavy Aldo Colliander takes on Estonian Valery Semishkur. At lightweight Jonny Ibramov is in against Nico Salzmann. Hardpunching but fragile heavy Marcel Zeller will fight tough Latvian Roman Dabolins. In the evening at the Sporthalle the main bouts, Spada vs Oral and Kurzawa vs Brancalion are already announced. GBU superfly champ Alesia Graf´s title defence vs Oksana Romanova is in doubt due to a courtcase with Universum that will be decided in the week to come. Of note is that Herbie Hide returns against Jevgenijs Stamburskis, a decent 4-6 round level opponent – at the same time Herbie talks of fighting the winner of Hill vs Maske or a young tiger like Marco Huck.
WBC and WBA superchamp Mikkel Kessler scaled 171 lbs / 77,8 kg Saturday at the seven-day pre weight challenger Librado Andrade 169 lbs / 77,2 kg. Kessler closed out sparring Monday (March 19) and is reported to be in great shape.
Renowned Italian trainer Geppino Silvestri have passed away at the age of 80 in the city of Naples. Silvestri trained the likes of Patrizo Oliva, Elio Cotena, Alfredo Raininger, Ciro Di Leva and Salvatore Todisco.
The City Council in Mariehamn on the island of Aaland between Finland and Sweden have turned down an appeal from John Holmberg (front man for Steffen Tangstad) to stage a stage a professional boxing at the Baltic Hall in Mariehamn. Holmberg and Tangstad had applied to do a show April 21 using Scandinavian fighters as they did as late as 2004 but the Council insist that an old rule about not letting proboxing or martial arts events take place in the sport halls operated by the city of Mariehamn.
It´s on: New Sweden´s show in Gothenburg March 31 received permission from the Martial Arts Delegation. Female middleweights Aasa Sandell and Dakota Stone headline over six twos with the vacant WBE title at stake. MAD insists on improved matchmaking and better medical checkups than were the case on the first show.
On February 24 in Herstal, Belgium, and Reims, France, one “Marian Cazacu” from Romania appeared on both shows. After an investigation the Belgian Federation confirms that it was indeed Marian Cazacu that drew with Herve De Luca in Belgium. So who was the “Marian Cazacu” appearing in France? Nothing confirmed but it´s said to have been one Christian Hodorog, a debutant, who lost to Pierre Vungbo.
Danish jr middle Reda Zam Zam has been offered a shot at WBO ruler Sergiy Dzinziruk writes Team Palle in a press release. The offer is for a showdown May 19 in Hamburg. Zam Zam fights Venezuelan Carlos Donquiz on the Kessler vs Andrade bill on Saturday in Copenhagne
Welters Giammario Grassellini and Mauricio Saucedo clash for the vacant IBF I/C title March 23 in Perugia.
Feathers Rikard Lundby and Karl Larsson-Jones clash March 31 in Gothenburg in what will be the first all-Swedish matchup on Swedish soil since 1950 when Gunnar Nilsson fought Arne Sundin writes New Sweden in a press release. The Ray Patterson vs Lars Norling fights in the 60´s apparently doesn´t qualify as Ray wasn´t a Swedish citizen then. Outside of Sweden (in Luebeck) Armand Krajnc defended the WBO 160 lb title against Paolo Roberto in 2001.
IBO jr middle titleholder Attila Kovacs defends the title against American Robert Frazier April 13 in Szombathely, Hungary.
French heavy champ Steve Herelius takes on Armenian Suren Galachian March 20 in St Nazaire in the headliner of a show promoted by Gerard Teysseron that goes out live on EuroSport.
Boxing Kings in Bern, Switzerland, promotes a show April 9 with middleweight Yves Studer, lightheavy Mohamed Belkacem and jr welter Martino Ciano. Not on the bill is unbeaten welter Riad Menasria, who´s been with Boxing King for years, but now have allowed the contract to expire. There was an offer for Menasria to fight EBU champ Jackson Oseu Bonsu but Riad reportedly turned it down due to financial reasons.
Welters Slawomir Ziemlewicz and Kobe Vandekerkhove clash for the TWBA title March 30 in Slaskie, Poland.
French fly Brahim Asloum, a recent loser to WBO ruler Omar Narvaez, tells French media he will continue with Louis Acaries as trainer. “I will become champ and it will be with Louis in the corner” says Asloum.
Swedish lightweight Shadi Hamsho, trained by Freddy Roach and 8-0, returns to action March 29 in San Jose, CA, after a brief layoff due to a managerial dispute.
Jyrkki Markkanen and Juha Haapoja drew over ten hardfought rounds last night in Kuopio, Finland, with the vacant national heavyweight title at stake. Jr middle Mika Joensuu beat Justin Barnes over six in the chief support.
Wally Munteanu has been sentenced by a Swedish court to three years in prison for various charges of tax evasion. Munteanu was along Robert Nordman co-promoter of New Sweden Boxing Promotions. New Sweden announced that Munteanu was out of the company when the he was taken into custody for charges of blackmail – a case that he still have to be charged for. However, Wally have reportedly remained active as a matchmaker even for the upcoming show March 31 and according to tt, a Swedish news agency, he attended the press conference announcing Sandell vs Stone.