(Picture: Andreas Sauer) Marco Huck (34-1, 25 KOs) believes speed will be key to defeat WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin (23-0, 16 KOs) when they clash in Stuttgart on February 25. Having made eight successful defences of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Cruiserweight Title, Huck is ready to move up. “I want to write boxing history and become the first German heavyweight champion since Max Schmeling,” Huck said at today´s press conference in Stuttgart. “Povetkin is a very strong opponent, he has won everything as an amateur and now is the world champion. But I know I can beat him. I have trained hard. I am much faster than him.” Added his coach Ulli Wegner: “This is a very special fight that means a lot to everybody. We fancy our chances. One thing is clear, though. Marco can only win if he will be faster than Povetkin.”
Povetkin, who stopped American veteran Cedric Boswell in his first defence last month, expects a hard fight. “I have a lot of respect for Huck,” he stated. “He is fast, tough and very aggressive. I will be prepared for his speed. I will enter the ring in top shape and defend my title.”
Kalle Sauerland is convinced that the clash at the Porsche-Arena will be one to remember. “A lot of people have asked us why we match two of our best fighters against each other,” he stated. “The answer is simple: We want to make the most exciting fights out there. We owe that to the fans. Povetkin-Huck will be the most dramatic and thrilling heavyweight title clash in many, many years.”
Tickets go on sale on Wednesday and can be purchased at Team Sauerland´s webpage www.boxing-online.com.
WBF Champions Retain In Mexico & Germany
Thousands of miles apart, but equally impressive, Irma Sanchez and Ramona Kuehne retained their WBF Women’s Flyweight and Super Featherweight World titles on Saturday night by stopping their opponents in front of packed crowds in Mexico and Germany.
At the Coliseo Olimpico de la UG in her hometown of Guadalajara, Irma “La Guerita” Sanchez, got rid of Thailand’s Fahpratan Looksaikongdin already in the second round. After dominating the first stanza, Sanchez found a perfect right in the second that send the challenger crashing to the canvas, and referee Juan Manuel Rincon wisely stopped the fight at 1:27 of
the round.
Televised by Mexico Televisa and promoted by HG Boxing, this was the second successful defense for Sanchez of the World Flyweight title she won last July, and judging by the loud reception she received from the spectators Saturday night she is clearly a superstar in Guadalajara, and another title defense in the beautiful capital of Jalisco state would likely be welcomed by the local boxing fans.
With the victory Sanchez improved her professional record to 22-5-1 (7), while Looksaikongdin, who in her last bout came close to stopping WBF World Junior Flyweight Champion Ju Hee Kim before losing on points in South Korea, fell to 7-4.
WBF President Howard Goldberg was present to supervise the bout, but also to present an honorary belt to the family of former WBF World title-challenger Rafael “Chocho” Guzman, who was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Guadalajara last October.
A few hours earlier, at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany, Super Featherweight Champion Ramona Kuehne improved her impressive record to 19-1 (6) by dominating Hungarian challenger Renata Domsodi (7-1, 3 KOs) for seven rounds before ending matters at 1:24 of the eighth.
At the time of the stoppage she was ahead by 70-63 on all scorecards. Kuehne never let Domsodi in the fight, and every time the Hungarian attempted something she was firmly put in her place by hard and precise shots from the champion. The longer the fight went, the longer the combinations from Kuehne were, and she really showed off all her boxing skills in a master-class performance.
In round eight Domsodi suffered a cut over her left eye from an accidental clash of heads, but was allowed to continue after inspection from referee Ingo Barrabas. However, it was only a matter of time, as Domsodi, confused by the dripping of blood, was quickly overwhelmed by Kuehne who went in throwing until Barrabas rightly interfered and waved it off.
This was the third defense of the WBF title for Kuehne, who also retained her WBO and WIBF championships in the process.
Del Valle facing tough challenge this saturday against Beranza
Luis ‘Orlandito’ del Valle training in December at the Juan “Popo” Guzmán Gym in Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico.
This week, undefeated super bantamweight (122 lbs) Luis “Orlandito” del Valle (14-0, 11KO’s) is finishing up preparations in Newburgh, New York for his bout against José Beranza (34-21-2, 26 KO’s), to be held January 21st, 2012 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City.
Beranza, who is well respected and considered a tough rival, is just coming off a win against Christopher Martin, who was until then undefeated in his previous 25 matches.
Raymond Rivera and ‘Orlandito’ del Valle
Raymond Rivera, Orlandito’s trainer and manager said: “We’ve been working very hard in Puerto Rico and Newburgh ( New York ) getting ready for the fight. It’s gonna be ’round by round’, very smart as always”.
“He’s a great fighter”, said Del Valle about Beranza. “Other prospects and great champions haven’t been able to defeat him, but we are more than ready for this challenge and to bring another triumph for my island”. The Bayamón native is part of ‘Team Puerto Rico’, a collaboration between promoters Gary Shaw Productions (GSP), DiBella Entertainment (DBE), Universal Promotions (UP) and Warriors Boxing (WB).
As a professional at the featherweight division (126 lbs.), del Valle won the New York State title after defeating veteran Pascal Rouse, and won the WBA’s regional title, the North American Boxing Association’s (NABA) after defeating Vietnamese fighter Dat Nguyen (17-1, 6KO’s at the time) by unanimous decision on the eve of New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.
This event is part of Dibella Entertainment’s ‘Broadway Boxing’ series, in which the main fight will feature fellow Boricua and junior welterweight (140 lbs.) Gabriel ‘Tito’ Bracero (18-0, 3KO’s) who will take on former world champion, DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (37-19-1, 22KO’s).
Tickets ($45, $65, $85 and $125) are available at Ticketmaster: 1.800.475.3000, www.ticketmaster.com.