By Alexey Sukachev

After a lazy summer, Eastern European boxing is slowly getting back to form in August. There were several tiny show across several states, which saw some familiar names coming back and right into action. There will be more events of this sort in foreseeable future.

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On September 10, Uzbekistan will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its independence. There will be huge outdoor festivities, and boxing will surely be their vital part, as a big show, co-promoted by the local group Billur (Ruslan Dadakhanov) and Russia-based Ural Boxing Promotions, will be conducted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital.

In the main event, Uzbek heavyweight force Timur Ibragimov (30-3, 16 KOs) will fight for the WBA interim Pan African championship against little-known Ghanaian Prince George Akrong (10-5-1, 3 KOs). Ibragimov, a sturdy boxer with a sound technique, has wins over Oliver McCall, Timo Hoffman and Al Cole in the past and a controversial split decision loss to Jean Marc Mormeck in 2010.

Also on the card, 18-year old Russian Konstantin Ponomarev (10-0, 5 KOs) will be tested by Kyrgyz Damir Konshubaev (6-8-1, 3 KOs) over six. Hard-hitting lightweight Bekzod Nabiev (18-3-1, 12 KOs) battles feather-fisted Ukrainian Anatoly Sidorov (5-5-1) in an eight-rounder. Bahyt Abdurahimov (8-6-1, 3 KOs), who is much better than his record suggests, takes on Georgian Georgy Gachechiladze (8-5-1, 1 KO) in a six-round bantamweight contest. Ukrainian Contender’s winner Bogdan Protsyshin (6-2, 2 KOs) fights local charge Muhitdin Radzhabaev (6-1, 4 KOs). Also taking part in the show are undefeated Bekzod Yunusov (4-0, 2 KOs) and Ahror Muraliev (5-0, 4 KOs).

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Two weeks ago former world title challenger Alisultan Nadirbegov (18-2, 8 KOs), 33, came back to the squared circle after three years in retirement and stopped unheralded trialhorse Sergey Sergeev (2-4) in five rounds at Volna club in Tolyatti. Alexander Petrov of Proffighter staged the event.

Nadirbegov was last seen in the ring in June 2008; his penultimate fight being a unanimous decision over former champion Vince Phillips in May 2007. Nadirbegov is also known for his memorable give-and-take war with Kuvanych Toygonbayev in May 2006, which earned him a title shot. On Oct. 21, 2006, Nadirbegov fought against reigning WBO light middleweight champion Sergey Dzinziruk in Germany and lost via one-sided unanimous decision over twelve rounds.

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Latvian heavyweight journeyman Edgars Kalnars (21-23, 12 KOs), who notched several upsets in his past, also made his comeback last Sunday night in Riga and successfully forced debutant Armands Fismeistars (now 0-1) into retirement after a single fought round.

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Tomasz Babilonski of Babilon Promotions arranged a show this past Thursday night which featured a minor title fight amongst other activities. In the featured bout of the tournament, rising cruiserweight Krzysztof Glowacki (13-0, 8 KOs) stopped Czech veteran Roman Kracik (32-7-1, 18 KOs) at 2:15 of the ninth round. The fight was one-sided all way before the point of stoppage as all three judges had it unanimously in favour of the Pole 80-72. Glowacki added vacant Polish International and World Boxing Forum Titles to his stock.

In a battle of two undefeated middleweights, Robert Swierzbinski (5-0, 1 KO) got the better of Russian Ismail Teboev (5-1-1, 3 KOs) over eight: 79-75, 77-76 and 78-74. And the collision between Daniel Urbanski (20-7-3, 5 KOs) and Sebastian Skrzypczynski (6-5-1, 3 KOs) ended in a minor upset, when the latter stopped more experienced Urbanski at 2:59 of the third round.

Other results:
Lukasz Wawrzyczek (11-1-1, 2 KOs) TKO 3 Steven Kuechler (7-2, 3 KOs)
Krzysztof Chudecki (3-0) UD 4 Marcin Gierke (10-37-2)

The show was conducted in Miedzyzdroje, Poland.

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On Friday, Aug. 5, Andrzej Gmitruk, who is best known as a trainer of supreme Polish heavyweight Tomasz Adamek, combined his efforts with former boxer Marcin Najman to arrange a nice-packed little event at Polonia Hall in Czestochowa.

In the main event, light heavyweight Dariusz Sek (13-0-1, 5 KOs) continued his way up the ranks after the first successful defense of his TWBA title. Sek knocked down Frenchman Achille Omang Boya (11-9, 5 KOs) twice in the second stanza and finished him off at 2:32 of the fifth round.

In a battle of two super middleweights, Norbert Dabrowski (5-0, 1 KOs) has barely outpointed Estonian Anton Sjomkin (13-4, 11 KOs) over six rounds with a majority decision: 58-56 (twice) and 57-57. Also, former two-time WBO light heavyweight world title challenger Aleksy Kuziemski (22-3, 6 KOs) continued his quest for international domination and stopped Czech professional loser Roman Vanicki (9-25-1, 5 KOs) in two rounds.

Other results:
Maciej Sukecki (7-0, 2 KOs) UD 6 Mika Joensuu (12-6, 3 KOs)
Michal Starbala (3-0) TD 3 Tomas Man (1-3, 1 KO)
Bartolomiej Grafka (2-0) MD 4 Patryk Kowoll (0-2)
Michal Nieroda (3-0) UD 4 Rafal Piotrowski (0-8)