07.06.07 – Mads Larsen will continue his way back up the super-middleweight division on June 23 when he takes on Hector Javier Velazco in Zwickau, Germany. It will only be the Golden Boy´s second fight in over three-and-a-half years. He celebrated a successful return last month in Spain where he clinched a unanimous points decision over Vasily Andriyanov. But Velazco will be of a different calibre, and Larsen (46-2, 37 KOs) is prepared for a difficult fight against the former WBO middleweight champion (35-6, 16 KOs)..
“To fight such a strong opponent in my Germany debut for Sauerland Event clearly shows in which direction we are heading,” Larsen stated, while Sauerland matchmaker Hagen Doering believes it won´t be long until Larsen regains his old strengths. “Mads Larsen is a big name in the international super-middleweight division,” he stated. “He was the European champion and we brought him to Germany for him to win titles again. The fight against Velazco will be the first step.”
Velazco is no stranger to German boxing fans. He dropped a tight points decision against Juergen Braehmer last month even though he knocked him down in the sixth round. Back in 2003, “El Artillero” won the WBO middleweight belt before losing a split decision against Felix Sturm. In 2005, King Arthur Abraham stopped Velazco in the fifth round in Dortmund.
Larsen is no stranger to Germany either. He will return to the place where he celebrated the biggest success of his career. In October 2003, he tore the European belt away from Danilo Haeussler in Zwickau. “I have only the best memories of the city and that very night,” Larsen stated. “Even though the fans were supporting Danilo, they were very fair. I hope they will be supporting me this time out. I have no doubts that Zwickau will be a great place to fight.”
Larsen has been in great shape as he is trying to get over the long ring break. “You don´t forget how to box,” Hagen Doering stated. “And Mads Larsen certainly knows how to box. It will be a great fight in Zwickau.”