All good things come in fives. With a great programme and five title bouts, the upcoming „Universum Champions Night“ will present great boxing actions in Hamburg. Alongside the highly expected title defence of cruiserweight world champion Firat Arslan against his mandatory challenger Guillermo Jones, the big card will include four more title bouts on September 27 at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg..
Already a folk hero in his native Swabia, WBA cruiserweight champion Firat Arslan (29-4-1, 18 KOs) will now try to conquer the hearts of fight fans in the Hanseatic City of Hamburg, when he takes on his mandatory challenger Guillermo Jones (35-3-2, 27 KOs) from Panama.
Self-made man Arslan, who turns 38 the following day, will be making his second defense. It will be another milestone in his career. The world champion will again be prepared for the fight by his trainer duo Michael Timm and Valentin Silaghi in a trainings camp in the Austrian Alps.
Firat Arslan: “My preparation was very tough, but injury-free and without problems. I will give everything to retain my title. I’m not going to stand here like Guillermo Jones and trumpet about how I’m going to win the fight on Saturday. I’ll do everything and we’ll see who the winner will be. I waited 20 years for the chance to become world champion. Now, of course, I’ll do everything I can to make sure I remain champion.”
The 36-year-old Jones is promoted by Don King and is a well experienced fighter. He has been a contender in three different weight classes with two world title bouts which he both lost.
Guillermo Jones: “I thank God that I get the chance to fight for the world title. I’m going to get that belt – this will be my day!”
The bout at the huge Color Line Arena will highlight the first “Universum Champions Night” event following the summer break.
Julia Sahin defends her WIBF belt in Hamburg against the Mexican Esmeralda Moreno
In addition to the “heavy guys” headlining the September 27 “Universum Champions Night” event at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany (Firat Arslan vs. Guillermo Jones for the WBA cruiserweight championship, and Vladimir Virchis vs. Juan Carlos Gomez in a WBC heavyweight eliminator), fight fans in attendance will also have a chance to see the lightest fighter in the Universum stable.
Unbeaten WIBF junior flyweight world champion Julia “Sunshine” Sahin (20-0, 2 KOs) will defend her belt against Esmeralda Moreno (9-4, 3 KOs) of Mexico. Sahin, who has been preparing for the bout for the past few weeks in Hamburg with trainer Michael Timm, commented: “Esmeralda Moreno is very strong and always goes forward. I must show a solid defense.”
Her coach Michael Timm said: „Julia has been in great shape when she came to Hamburg. Especially her physical condition has impressed me.“
Cruiserweight knockouter Alexander Alekseev is challenged by the US-Fighter Rob Calloway
Another hopeful KO artist for the cruiserweight crown, the unbeaten WBO Interconti champion Alexander Alekseev, faces his toughest opponent to date in the experienced veteran Rob Calloway (70-7-2 (56)) of the USA. With his impressive KO record of 14 knockouts in 15 fights, the Fritz Sdunek trained Alekseev will now clash with a fighter who has been in the ring with Jameel McCline, Hasim Rahman and twice with the WBA world champion Ruslan Chagaev.
“This is the next step on the path to becoming a world champion. I’ll take this hurdle on Saturday and then hopefully get the fastest possible championship opportunity. First I want to get one belt, then all four, and then we’ll see further. This is how every boxer thinks. That’s my motivation.” Alekseev stated.
Inkin faces Fulgencio Zuniga for the WBO-Interims world championships at super middleweight
Unbeaten WBO #3 super middleweight Denis Inkin (33-0, 24 KOs) will now face Columbian born Fulgencio Zuniga (21-2-1, 18 KOs), who lives in the USA, for the WBO interim world title. Inkin was originally slated to face Universum stablemate Karoly Balzsay, however Balzsay was forced to pull out after suffering a cut under his left eye in a sparring session.
Inkin-Zuniga will be for the interim belt as WBO titleholder Joe Calzaghe continues his foray into the light heavyweight division against Roy Jones Jr. on November 8th in New York City.
Vladimir Virchis faces Juan Carlos Gomez in a WBC – Eliminator
Vladimir „The Hunter“ Virchis (24-1-0, 20 K.o.) will face the former heavyweight world champion Juan Carlos „Black Panther“ Gomez (43-1-0, 35 K.o.) in a WBC heavyweight eliminator. The winner of this battle will challenge the winner of the WBC world title fight between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko.
Virchis has been preparing for the bout at Hamburg’s famous Universum Gym with trainer Conny Mittermeier. The Ukrainian fighter said about the fight, which was originally slated for earlier this year: „I feel great, I’m fit and extremely motivated. This is the result of hard work, also on my technique, with my trainer Conny Mittermeier. This fight against Gomez is the biggest and the most important fight of my career!“
Three talented and unbeaten Universum and spotlight fighters will feature in seperate bouts at the Color Line Arena:
Super middleweight Lukas Wilaschek (21-0-0 (7)) faces Laurent Goury (14-16-0 (2)), the heavyweight hopeful Sebastian Köber (15-0-0 (11)) is challenged by Viktor Szalai (10-13-1 (3)) while the Hungarian Super Bantamweight Zsolt Bedak (10-0-0 (2)) will meet the Mexican German Merez (18-10-1 (6)) in the ring.
Tickets for this event are available at:
Universum Ticket Hotline: +49 – 40 – 69 65 59 – 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +49 – 1805 – 5 70 000
at all known tickets shops and under www.boxing.de
Interview with Vladmir Virchis – four questions, four answers!
Vladimir „The Hunter“ Virchis (24-1-0, 20 K.o.) will face the former heavyweight world champion Juan Carlos „Black Panther“ Gomez (43-1-0, 35 K.o.) in a WBC heavyweight eliminator. The winner of this battle will challenge the winner of the WBC world title fight between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko.
Questions and answers with the former European Champion Vladimir Virchis and his trainer Conny Mittermeier:
How is your conditioning?
“I feel great. I’m fit as ever and highly motivated. This is the result of more than nine weeks of hard work with my coach Conny Mittermeier.”
How do you assess Juan Carlos Gomez?
“I have respect for all of my opponents. The only important for me that I neither underestimate or overestimate them.”
Where does the nickname “The Hunter” come from?
“I was once hunting with a few friends in the Ukraine. When we standing together in a group, I held my gun with the barrel down. Suddenly a shot accidentally fired and splinters of the bullet unfortunately slightly injured some bystanders. Since then I’ve never hunted, but soon after I had the nickname “The Hunter.”
The fight on Saturday is a heavyweight eliminator and the winner will fight for the WBC world championship belt against the winner between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko – is this your big chance?
“Yes, of course it’s a huge opportunity, but for now I don’t want to look into the future. For that I must first defeat Gomez.”
Trainer Conny Mittermeier adds: “Vladimir is doing great and is properly prepared. He is fit as he has ever been, is at his best fighting weight in a long time and is ready to stay on his toes. We’ve polished his technique in recent weeks but everyone knows Vladimir can hit.”
The “Universum Champions Night” event at the Color Line Arena will feature a total of five title fights. In the main event, WBA cruiserweight champion Firat Arslan faces mandatory challenger Guillermo Jones. Tickets are still available at:
Ticket-Hotline: +49 40- 69 65 59 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +49 – 1805-5 70 000
and www.boxing.de