“SHOWTIME” in Berlin – today arena-CEO Ahmet Öner presented his stars for the first time in the German capital. The 35-year-old manager, head coach Karsten Röwer and arena’s top stars Juan Carlos Gomez, Odlanier Solis, Sinan Samil Sam and Steffen Kretschmann gave a press conference in the Mexican “Cancun”-bar near Potsdamer Platz. All four “star-fighters” will be part of arena’s big show on on October 19th in Berlin’s Estrel Convention Center. It will be “Cuban night” in Berlin featuring five international championship bouts – and a truly big main event.
Former World cruiserweight champion Juan Carlos Gomez (currently ranked on No. 5 by the WBC) faces WBC International Champion Oliver McCall (No. 3) in a WBC world championship Eliminator! After the injury of Vitali Klitschko the winner of the bout has good chances to gain his title shot shortly after Oleg Maskaev and Samuel Peter have sorted out who will be the man to beat..
It’s the second time that the “Black Panther” and “The Atomic Bull” clash. Two years ago Gomez clearly decisioned McCall but was tested positive on cocaine after the fight. Gomez: “I never took any drugs. Somebody trapped me!” Sounds like unfinished business… Gomez: “After the fight McCall started trash talking. He said that I would rather run than fight and that I couldn’t punch hard. Well, in Berlin I will proof him wrong!”
Olympic heavyweight champion Odlanier Solis will fight in the co-main event of the night. Manager Ahmet Öner: “Solis is the next big thing in heavyweight boxing. He will definitely become World Champion. He is already ranked on No. 39 by the WBC after only three professional fights. I don’t remember anyone who went through the roof like that ever before. He will face a world-class opponent in Berlin so he can proceed his way straight to the top. That is why our German TV partner Premiere wanted him in the co-main event of the night although we will have lots of great fights in that show.”
Four of those other fights will be for championship belts. After losing his WBC International Champion Sinan Samil Sam will try to win the WBC Mediterranean Championship. arena’s middleweight prospects Mahir “the Lion” Oral (currently under the Top 15 of the world in all four major rankings) and Alpaslan Agüzüm will both fight for gold as well as “Russian Giant” Alexander Ustinov. In addition to that hopeful German heavyweights Steffen Kretschmann and Konstantin Airich will step into the ring on October 19th.
Öner: “Every fight will be a highlight on that show!”
Berlin/Hamburg, September 13th 2007