By Per Ake Persson: sporten.dk in Denmark reports of a possible conflict between WBA supermiddle champ Mikkel Kessler and Team Palle, who have promoted and managed Kessler since the beginning of his career. The exact details of the conflict aren´t known but there is to be a meeting between Kessler and his attorneys and Palle and their legal representation to discuss the contract. Kessler´s friend Simon Lundt Hansen has applied for a license as both promoter and manager..
German tabloid Bild Zeitung ran a story of a possible defence by WBC heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko against mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Gomez. According to Bild a deal is close with the fight taking place March 21 in Stuttgart with K 2 as promoter. Should a deal not be worked out the WBC have January 9 at noon in Mexico City as deadline for pursebids. Klitschko vs Gomez is an intriguing matchup between former stablemates and the two had for a long time the same trainer in Fritz Sdunek. Vitali, the much bigger man, has developed into a solid, hardpunching robot-like performer while Gomez has a natural talent that can´t be taught. Vitali is still trained by Sdunek and his own man through K 2 while Juan Carlos is now signed to Arena Box Promotion.
Former WBA superbantam champ Mayhar Monshipour, now campaigning at bantam, continues his comeback January 24 in Pau. Opponent has yet to be announced.
IBF feather king Cristobal Cruz of Mexico defends the title against Frenchman Cyril Thomas February 14 in Saint Quentin, Thomas´ hometown.
Undefeated Irish-based Cuban heavyweight prospect Mike Perez squares off against Ukrainian Alex Mazikin January 16 in Cork. Mazikin, 13-2-1 have fought in two Olympic games and first turned pro with Spotlight Boxing but was lost controversially an eliminator to Taras Bidenko. Perez is 6-0 but Mazikin represent a big step up in class.
One of the most exciting “small” fights last year took place September 5 in Secunda, South Africa, when Hungarian cruiser Joszef Nagy overcame six knockdowns to stop Zack Mwekassa in the sixth to win the WBF bauble. A rematch was then set for December 5 but was then moved to January. In between Joszef accepted a fight in Ukraine against Vitaly Rusal for the IBO I/C title and lost and is now stripped of the WBF title.
BBU heavy champ Juho Haapoja defends the title February 21 in Vasa, Finland, in what is the inaugural show put on by Caramelito Promotions. If all goes well Haapoja, also national champ, will then fight a six-rounder March 13 in Kemi on a Steel Ring promotion. Haapoja have also been named BBU fighter of the year.
WBC Int´l supermiddle champ Robert Stieglitz will have a non-title fight at home in Magdeburg on Saturday January 10 and take on Estonian Dimitri Protkunas.