Alexander Povetkin (21-0, 15 KOs) and Ruslan Chagaev (27-1-1, 17 KOs) will clash for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Title in Erfurt on August 27. In the co-featured main event, WBA & WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Robert Helenius will collide with Siarhei Liakhovich. “It is going to be a fantastic night of heavyweight boxing,” promoter Kalle Sauerland said. “This will be a great treat for boxing fans all around the world.”
After Wladimir Klitschko added the WBA belt to his International Boxing Federation (IBF) & WBO titles, the WBA made him super champion and the title became vacant. Top-ranked Chagaev and Povetkin, the number two, now fight for the title. “I am really looking forward to the fight,” Povetkin stated. The 31-year-old, unbeaten in 21 fights, would have loved to fight for the title at an earlier stage, but the death of his father put him through a rough spell last year. “That´s past history now,” Kalle Sauerland added. “Alexander needed some time to get over the sad news. But now he is ready for a world title fight. He has always been one of the most talented heavyweight contenders out there. Now he will finally capture the title.”
Chagaev will be eager to regain the title he once won from The Russian Giant Nikolai Valuev in April 2007. “It is going to be an exciting fight of two equally talented fighters,” Universum boss Klaus-Peter Kohl said. “Both had great amateur careers and won world championships, Povetkin even won the Olympic gold medal. Both have a similar physical constitution, but Ruslan has already been world champion as professional. I am convinced he will accomplish his goal of winning the title again.”
In the co-featured main event, rising heavyweight contender Robert Helenius (15-0, 10 KOs) will be looking to claim the scalp of Siarhei Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs) as he defends his WBA & WBO Intercontinental Titles. The “Nordic Nightmare” knocked out Sam Peter in his last fight in April. He is ranked 2nd at the WBO and 3rd at the IBF. “Robert has a great future ahead,” coach Ulli Wegner stated. “He keeps progressing and he certainly has the talent to be world champion. Liakhovich is a very tough opponent and Robert will be perfectly prepared once he steps through the ropes.”
Szpilka vs. Williams on Wach-McBride undercard on 7/29
NORTH BERGEN (July 18, 2011) – Undefeated Polish bad boy Artur Szpilka and trainer Fiodor Lapin arrived Monday afternoon from Poland at JFK International Airport to finish up training for his July 29 match on the Mariusz Wach-Kevin McBride undercard at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The 22-year-old southpaw Szpilka (6-0, 4 KO) of North Bergen, NJ by way of Wieliczka, Poland will face David Williams (6-4-1, 2 KO) of Philadelphia, PA in a four-round heavyweight matchup on “Heat Wave,” which is presented by Classic Entertainment and Sports and Global Boxing. Szpilka is co-promoted by Global Boxing and 12 Round Knockout Promotions.
Szpilka will be making his first appearance in an American boxing since July of 2009. Szpilka’s career was interrupted in October of that year when he was arrested at the weigh-in for his match on the undercard of the battle between his countrymen Tomasz Adamek and Andrew Golota in Łódź, Poland.
Szpilka was charged for his role in a brawl between soccer hooligans supporting his team Wisla Krakow and bitter rivals Cracovia and sentenced to 18 months in jail.
“During that time, I realized just what I had lost and began to appreciate boxing more. I kept fit by doing pull-ups, pushups and lifting weights in prison, which helped me build up my upper body strength and punching power. Now I’m hungrier than ever before.”
That power was on display when he made his ring return less than a month ago in Poland. Facing Ramiz Hadziaganovic – who entered with an 8-0 (7 KO) record – Szpilka needed just :33 seconds to score the dramatic one-punch knockout in front of a sold-out crowd.
The Polish public enemy entered the ring wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and was escorted by models dressed as police officers in an homage to his life-changing experience. Expect Szpilka to be dressed similarly on July 29.
“I’m dedicating to this fight to all the people who I was locked up with in Poland. This fight is for them.”
There will be a press conference this Thursday, July 21 at 1 P.M. at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen to formally announce the card. Wach, McBride and Szpilka will all be in attendance.
For more information on Szpilka and “Heat Wave,” visit www.globalboxing.com.
Tickets for “Heat Wave,” priced at $40, $65 and $105, can be purchased by calling CES at 401.724.2253/2254 or calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.745.3000. Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.cesboxing.com, www.ticketmaster.com, or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. For more information on “Heat Wave,” visit www.cesboxing.com or www.mohegansun.com.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the first bout scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
YouTube Video of Artur Szpilka’s First Round Knockout of Ramiz Hadziaganovic – June 25, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAn_BJuq6n4
WBO ANNOUNCES REFEREE AND JUDGES FOR SATURDAY ORLANDO SALIDO’S WORLD TITLE DEFENSE IN MEXICO
World Boxing Organization (WBO), by president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel, announced today the referee and judges who will work on the Orlando Salido’s first Featherweight title defense this Saturday, July 23, at the Centro de Usos Multiples at Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
Salido (35-11-2, 23 KOs), who won his belt last April 16 when he beat former champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez by an eight round TKO in Puerto Rico, will defend his WBO 126lb title against Japanese Kenichi Yamaguchi (17-1-2, 4 KOs). The referee for this bout will be Roberto Ramirez Jr., from Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, the judges are Victor Salomon, from Mexico, William Lerch, from USA, and Hernando Steidel, from Puerto Rico. The WBO supervisor will be Rafael Lopez Santos.
Remember, the 24th World Boxing Organization (WBO) Annual Convention, to be held in Puerto Rico in 2011, is scheduled to October 24th to 29th. For reservations at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, can call 1 787 253-1700 Ext. 4161, 1 800 241-3333 or accessing http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/SanJuan/Default.htm.