Skoglund Signs Four-Year Extension With Sauerland Event

By Jake Donovan

There is a lot from 2015 that Erik Skoglund would like to leave in the rearview mirror. However, he ended the year with a bang and his 2016 campaign has already jumped out to a strong start.

The unbeaten light heavyweight from Sweden signed a four-year contract extension with Sauerland Event, meaning his promoter from the start of his career will be along for the ride as he transitions from prospect to budding contender.

“’I’m delighted to have extended my contract with Team Sauerland,” Skoglund (24-0, 11KOs) said in a statement through Sauerland’s press office. “I’ve been with the Sauerlands since I started my professional career six years ago and I look forward to continuing our successful partnership. The new deal is for the next four years, but I hope to stay with them for the rest of my career.”

Skoglund spent most of 2015 resting and rehabilitating from injuries before posting a pair of wins in the year’s final quarter. The downtime was a bit of a buzzkill to his points win over faded former light heavyweight champ Glen Johnson to end 2014, but scoring shutout victories over Oleksandr Cherviak and Derek Edwards - following a nine-month absence and both of which were staged in his Nyköping hometown - has put his career back on track.

“I had a really tough start to 2015,” reflects the fighter from Nyköping. “I was out of the ring for over six months with a back injury and it was unclear when I would be able to return, so to come back and be a part of the first championship fight in Sweden for over 40 years was amazing.”

The win over Edwards came last December, with his team now in the early stages of mapping out his 2016 campaign.

“Erik is one of the stand out stars of European boxing,’’ believes Nisse Sauerland, who along with his brother Kalle ably run the Germany-based empire founded by their father Wilfried. “We’ve had the pleasure of working with him for the past six years, during which time we have seen him develop from an eighteen year-old amateur into a bona fide World title contender.

“We are pleased he has chosen to sign with us for another four years, and look forward to helping him achieve his ultimate ambition of becoming World Champion.”

There remains work to be done before moving toward the upper echelon of the light heavyweight division, one that includes World champion Adonis Stevenson and unbeaten, unified titlist Sergey Kovalev – regarded by many as the best light heavyweight in the world. Skoglund is aware of this, but also believes the newfound momentum is the start of a promising run.

“I think my performances against Cherviak and Edwards were among my best, and I’m excited to get back in action in the New Year,” insists Skoglund. “I know 2016 is going to be a big year for me. I’m highly ranked with both World and European governing bodies, and I’ll be ready for whatever challenges come my way.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox