01.10.08 – Luan “The Lion” Krasniqi challeneges Alexander „Sascha“ Dimitrenko – in a fight for the WBO Interconti heavyweight belt! Sascha Dimitrenko: “We know each other well – having already trained together and sparring, but with the first gong here in Dusseldorf, the friendship is over. I will not be beaten.” Luan Krasniqi: “I am extremely happy that I’m finally boxing again. The fight against Sascha is like a knighthood for me. We’re both good and stylish boxers – but I will win..
Heavyweights and stablemates Alexander “Sascha” Dimitrenko, 26, and Luan “The Lion” Krasniqi, 37, will collide on November 15th at the Burg-Wächter Castello in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Luan “The Lion” Krasniqi will return to action for the first time since a July 2007 loss against Tony Thompson in a WBO eliminator and wants to conquer the WBO Intercontinental title. Alexander “Sascha” Dimitrenko on the other hand wants to remain in the top five of all the major sanctioning organizations’ ratings and continue his way to a possible world title bouts.
Sascha Dimitrenko stated on today’s press conference in Düsseldorf: “We know each other well – having already trained together and sparring, but with the first gong here in Dusseldorf, the friendship is over. I will not be beaten.”
Challenger Luan Krasniqi: “I am extremely happy that I’m finally boxing again. The fight against Sascha is like a knighthood for me. We’re both good and stylish boxers – but I will win.
The 37 year old heavyweight Luan Krasniqi (30-3-1 (14)) of Rottweil wants to demonstrate in this title bout Alexander Dimitrenko that he is still one of the best heavyweights in the world. Additionally he wants to get back to the top five of the heavyweight division to have another shot at one of the world title belts.
“Regarding the Thompson fight — I needed the depths to reach the heights. On November 15, I must fight and show what’s in me! I think that I’ll win and that I’m not finished with boxing.”
Hi eleven year younger and current WBO Inter-Continental titleholder Dimitrenko is coming off a brilliant fifth round TKO of Derric Rossy in May. Rated WBO #1 and in the top five of all the major sanctioning organizations’ ratings, the 6’8 Dimitrenko is risking his lofty status in order to have a chance to follow his dream and become world champion.
“I don’t underestimate anybody,” he continued. “Luan has had good, hard fights, but I will be going all out. My goal is to become a world champion – not to lose! My broken hand has fully recovered and I have learned a lot in the fight against Hoffmann, that made me even stronger!” Dimitrenko vowed.
ZDF will broadcast the headlining fight live. Additional title fights and the complete fightcard of the this ‘Universum Champions Night’ will be announced in the next few weeks.
Tickets for this “Universum Champions Night“ are available at:Universum Ticket Hotline: +49-40-696 559 59 or at www.boxing.de
Felix Sturm meets Sebastian Sylvester
Sebastian Sylvester-Manager Spiering: „We have a slogan against Universum Box-Promotion: We will ‘hunt, ram and sink them.”
Felix Sturm: “A great champion does not need a big mouth. To be a good boxer you need heart, courage and a good head, however, intellect and standards don’t exist with them (Team Sylvester).”
In an all German fight for the WBA middleweight world championship the reigning world champion Felix Sturm will take on mandatory challenger Sebastian Sylvester. Both contenders met at todays press conference at the Coca-Cola-Oase within the Centro shopping complex in Oberhausen in front of 500 spectators.
Felix Sturm: “Sebastian clearly won against Castillejo. He had his performance there and that I respect. As world champion I have have to fight the #1 and will take it totally seriously.”
Sebastian Sylvester, who calls Sturm by his birth name: “My fight against Javier Castillejo was the semifinal. Now comes the final. I defeated [Castillejo] clearly. Now I am fully concentrated on fighting Adnan Catic.”
As a result of the successful purse-bid by Universum, the bout will take place November 1 at the König-Pilsener ARENA in Oberhausen, Germany. It will be the first world title fight between two German boxers in more than eight years (Michalczewski-Rocchigiani on April 15, 2000 in Hannover, which Michalczewski won by Tko). Both camps were already on the offensive today. Sylvester’s trainer Hartmut Schröder: „We’re looking forward to the world title and are well prepared. The last phase is beginning. If Felix arrogantly rumbles, he’d better take his jacket since he’ll be down a long time and then it will be cold.“
Felix Sturm replied to that: „A great champion does not need a big mouth. To be a good boxer you need heart, courage and a good head, however, intellect and standards don’t exist with them (Team Sylvester).
Sylvester’s manager Winfried Spiering clearly said: „We have a slogan against Universum Box-Promotion: We will ‘hunt, ram and sink We’ve known Adnan Catic for ten years and respect him as a boxer. He is technically solid. We wanted to box him for the German championship, now we’ll box him for the world championship.“
World champion Felix Sturm (30-2-1 (13)) and his trainer Michael Timm certainly have good memories about Oberhausen. In April 2007 Sturm regained his WBA belt by defeating the Spanish former world champion Javier Castillejo in a spectacular rematch at the König-Pilsener-ARENA in front of over 7000 fascinated spectators. Felix Sturm: „I’m looking forward to Oberhausen as I retained my title here in April 2007. I have heard that almost the half of the available tickets have been sold which is great. The crowd was amazing and supported me in my fight against Castillejo. I have learned from my mistakes and especially in my last fight against Griffin I felt good and have moved around a lot. Clive Salz of Plus-One has done a lot for my preparation.“
After his last fight when he demonstrated his excellent boxing skills in Halle / Westfalen against Randy Griffin, the champion of the Universum Box-Promotion stable is now challenged by the former euro champion Sebastian Sylvester (29-2-0 (14)), who is promoted by Sauerland Events. WBA #1 Sylvester earned his first title shot by defeating Javier Castillejo in a fight for the European championships on April 17 of this year in Neubrandenburg. He brutally knocked out the Spaniard in round 12 to be named the mandatory challenger
Referring to Sturm’s preparation his coach Michael Timm said: „Felix is always becoming more developed. He hasn’t yet reached his peak. He is growing as a boxer and has developed his personality in the ring very well.“ His fitness coach Clive Salz has worked with him on the physical basics in the Plus One Gym in Cologne: „We have analysed the previous bouts and reached a high level in our preparations. Felix surprises us over and over again in the way he can make use of his incredible potential.“
2nd world title bout: Sergiy Dzinziruk, WBO super welterweight champion, will have to risk his belt aganist mandatory challenger Joel Julio
The fightcard in Oberhausen will also feature the reigning Universum world champion Sergiy Dzinziruk who will have to defend his WBO belt in the super welterweight division. The #2 Columbian mandatory challenger Joel Julio (34-1-0 (31)) is seen as a very tough challenge. The WBO-Latino-Champion lives and trains in the USA and has an impressive record for this weight class with 31 knockouts in 35 fights .
For the unbeaten and in Hamburg based Ukrainian Sergiy Dzinziruk (35-0-0 (22)), who is trained by Michael Timm, this fight is not only another title defence but also to underline his excellent skills in oder to fulfil his plans to invade the American market.
ZDF will broadcast all the headlining fights live. Additional title fights and the complete fightcard of the this ‘Universum Champions Night’ will be announced in the next few weeks.
Tickets for this “Universum Champions Night“ are available at:
Universum Ticket Hotline: +49 -40-696 559 59 or at www.boxing.de
World title shot for Rudolf Kraj
Cruiserweight Rudolf Kraj meets Giacobbe Fragomeni for the vacant WBC cruiserweight crown
on Friday, October 24 in Milan (Italy)
For cruiserweight Rudolf “Rudy” Kraj it is the chance of his life – on October 24 he will get his world title shot in Milan: the unbeaten spotlight boxing fighter Kraj (14-0-0 (10)) will face the local hero and experienced fighter Giacobbe Fragomeni (25-1-0 (10)) in the Italian metropolis for the vacant WBC cruiserweight belt.
Kraj, who earned this world title shot by defeating Matt Godfrey in a WBC Eliminator in Krefeld on March 8, had been signed by spotlight boxing in 2005. In the upcoming world title clash the hard hitting WBC #1 contender Kraj will collide with the Italian WBC #2 Giacobbe Fragomeni who was only beaten once in his 26 fights by the former cruiserweight Super Champ David Haye. With a win the Hamburg based Kraj can become the first Czech world champion. This in certainly an additional motivation for the spotlight fighter: “I would be very proud to be crowned the first Czech boxing world champion. Not only for my country but as well as motivation for all the young and talented boxers in the Czech Republic!”
Kraj-Coach Conny Mittermeier: “Fragomeni is a very tough fighter and he was only beaten by David Haye. In that fight he did a very good job. Fragomeni will attack from the beginning. As this fight is staged abroad we have to give everything. The best result would be a KO! And Rudy has got a hard punch which we have to make use of. We only have a chance to win this battle if we show an impressive performance. Otherwise its gonna be very difficult to win on points!“