Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Middleweight Champion & Super Six World Boxing Classic semi-finalist King Arthur Abraham (32-3, 26 KOs) returns on January 14 when he takes on Pablo Farias (19-1, 11 KOs) in Offenburg, Germany. Boxing-online.com has caught up with the 31-year-old.
Q: Arthur, January is not a popular fight date for most boxers because it means that you have to train through the Christmas and the New Year festivities. What was it like for you?
AA: “I trained all the time. No matter whether it was Saturday, Sunday, Christmas or New Year´s Day – I did not miss a single training session. On the days when Ulli Wegner was not available, his assistant Georg Bramowski took care of me. I did not complain about the hard training. It´s part of an athlete’s life. It´s not that bad to skip the sweets and the good food during Christmas time.”
Q: Are you looking forward to your ring return?
AA: “Yes, very much so. That´s why it was ok for me to train so hard in the past weeks. I have not fought since May. It has really been a long break.”
Q: You have been target to a lot of criticism after your losses in the Super Six tournament. How have you dealt with it?
AA: “Well, if you lose, you get criticised. That’s fine with me and that is something you have to live with. But I am not thinking about it any more. I have put it behind me. I am focussing on the future now.”
Q: Nevertheless, have there been any lessons learned?
AA: “You cannot change the past. You just have to accept it and try to improve in the future. I would not say I boxed “poorly” or committed a lot of mistakes. I just was too passive in the fights. I have prepared well for the fight in Offenburg but that is not any different from the last bouts. However, I will try to be more active, try to punch more.”
Q: What can the fans expect from you on January 14?
AA: “They can look forward to seeing the old Arthur Abraham, the one who won the world title and made ten successful defences!”
Q: What are your goals for 2012?
AA: “I only have one goal. I want to be world champion again.”
Kuehne vs. Domsodi and Sanchez vs. Looksaikongdin on Saturday, January 14
On Saturday January 14, two World Boxing Federation Women’s World Champions will defend their titles on big shows on both sides of the pond, as Ramona Kuehne takes on Hungarian Renata Domsodi in Germany, and Irma Sanches squares off with Thailands Fahpratan Looksaikongdin in Mexico.
Having won five world titles in three weight classes, WBF Women’s World Super Featherweight Champion Ramona Kuehne is without a doubt one of the most accomplished female boxers on the scene today. Against Domsodi, at the Baden-Arena in Offenburg, she will make her third WBF title defense.
The two will fight on a show aired live by ARD in Germany that also features a Super Middleweight World title bout between Robert Stieglitz and Henry Weber, and the return of “King” Arthur Abraham.
Currently 18-1 (5), with her only defeat coming on a cut against 25-0 Ina Menzer in an unlucky attempt at a world title in a fourth weight class, Kuehne is still only 31 years old and could potentially achieve many more goals in the sport. Amazingly almost half of her professional bouts have been for World titles, and the fight against Domsodi will be her tenth World Championship contest.
Kuehne won the WBF World title in her first fight after the Menzer-setback, when she knocked out Dominican Maribel Santana in June 2010. She has since successfully defended with victories over undefeated opponents Irma Adler and, most recently, Arleta Krausova in April of last year. After nine months of waiting, she is now itching to get back in the ring against Domsodi.
One year older than Kuehne at 32, Budapest-resident Renata Domsodi has only lost once as a pro (7-1, 3 KOs). The loss was in her debut when she dropped a decision to current WBF World Bantamweight Champion Renata Szebeledi, who back then had fifteen bouts under her belt. Since then Domsodi has not looked back, defeating all the opponents put in front of her, and while she will naturally be the underdog against Kuehne she will be an ambitious one.
On the same night, but thousands of miles away in Guadalajara, WBF Women’s World Flyweight Champion Irma Sanchez is making the second defense of her crown against Fahpratan Looksaikongdin. Sanchez won the world title this past July by stopping Panamanian Carlotta Santos, and in her last bout she defended with a unanimous decision over fellow Mexican Susana Cruz Perez in October.
Only 24 years old, Sanchez has already been a pro for more than five years and has had an eventful career spanning 27 fights with 21 victories, 5 defeats and a draw. She won her first title in 2008 when she lifted an International championship, and challenged for her first world crown the following year, losing on points to the much more experienced Mariana Juarez.
Since then Sanchez won a few regional belts and unsuccessfully challenged for another world championship, before finally becoming world champion when she defeated Katia Gutierrez for the IBF Light Flyweight title in January of last year. Losing the title in her first defense to Jessica Chavez, Sanchez decided to move up in weight to capture the WBF world championship.
In her second defense she will stand opposite another young and hungry boxer in 20 year old Looksaikongdin. Despite a modest verified boxing record of 7-3, the Thai girl has already been in three world championship bouts, and fared well in them all despite losing.
In 2009 she was stopped in four rounds by current WBF Light Flyweight World Champion Ju Hee Kim for WIBF, GBU and WIBF titles, but did well enough to earn a rematch in July 2011 where she came up short on points with the WBF title also on the line. In between the two encounters with Kim in South Korea, Looksaikongdin lost on points to Gretchen Abaniel in Manila, Philippines for a Minimumweight World title.
With WBF President Howard Goldberg at ringside, coming all the way from South Africa to witness the fight live, the Irma Sanches vs. Fahpratan Looksaikongdin clash at the Coliseo Olimpico de la UG in Guadalajara, will be presented by Hector Garcia and his HG Boxing, and will go out live to boxing fans via Mexico Televisa.
www.worldboxingfederation.net
Ryan Rhodes vs. Sergey Rabchenko on March 24th
HATTON PROMOTIONS stable-mates Ryan Rhodes and Sergey Rabchenko will meet for the vacant European light-middleweight title in Sheffield on Saturday 24th March.
The brilliant 12 round battle is likely to be one the best contests staged in Britain this year and shows Hatton Promotions commitment to matching the very best against each other.
Rhodes will be delighted to have home advantage at Ponds Forge Arena, and hopes to deliver a stunning performance to win back his old crown.
Belarussian Rabchenko, 25, who spends much of his time training in Manchester is unbeaten in 19 fights – with 14 victories inside the distance.
Ryan, 35, won the title when by beating his friend Jamie Moore in October 2009 in a memorable war, but was stripped after one defence because of injury.
Last June, Rhodes stepped up to world level and was stopped in the 12th round by Mexican star Saul Alvarez in a WBC title challenge.
And Hatton Promotions head Ricky Hatton has no doubt what awaits the winner, saying: “I am sure I will get the victor a world title fight.
“It is an exceptional fight between two special boxers and it fills me with excitement at what these lads will serve up for fans.
“Sergey is one of the best young talents in Europe and Ryan might be getting on in years, but his hunger and desire hasn’t diminished.
“He proved that when he beat Siarhei Khomiski in November. He is raring to go and determined to see off Rabchenko.”
The Sky Sports televised show is already close to a complete sell-out and will also feature Gary Buckland’s British super-featherweight title against Middlesbrough’s Paul Truscott.
On the undercard Sheffield heavyweight Richard Towers will have his first ten rounder and the card will also include unbeaten local ticket sellers Adam Etches and Scott Jenkins.
Boxing starts at 6.15pm and the remaining tickets are priced at £35, £55 and £75 VIP ringside. You can buy by calling 01925 755 222, Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500, Ticketline 0844 888 9991, any boxer on the bill or online www.hattonboxing.com