By Per Ake Persson
Big German-Ukrainian heavyweight Alexander Dimitrenko (32-1, 21KOs) is once again the mandatory challenger to EBU champion Robert Helenius (17-0, 11KOs). The EBU have officially set January 16th as the deadline for purse bids or an agreement between both parties. The winner of the purse bids will then have 60 days to get the fight off the ground.
Dimitrenko, who was recovering from a shoulder injury, was stripped of the title when he was physically unable to defend against Helenius, who then got Dereck Chisora as an opponent.
In the fight with Chisora, Helenius injured his right hand. And while he is back in training and doing roadwork, he is not even near the point of being capable to resume any serious training activities.
A Helenius vs. Dimitrenko battle is more than a fight for a European title - it is in fact an eliminator for a showdown against one of the Klitschkos.
The fight will surely happen during 2012 but when and where is still up in the air.