By Alexey Sukachev and Inna Lagun (Allboxing.ru)

According to the recent news, Denis Boytsov (31-0, 25 KOs), a highly ranked perennial heavyweight contender from Orel, Russia, will make his 2013 debut on Feb. 17 in Schwerin, Germany, against formerly ranked fringe contender Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (16-4, 14 KOs) of Brazil. Boytsov, 26, is presently in Hamburg, preparing for the bout with his chief coach Owen Rees.

The fight, however, is far from being done, says the owner of Universum Box-Promotion Waldemar Kluch. “The situation with his promotional agreement is crystal clear: either Denis boxes for us, or he doesn’t fight at all. If someone wants to buy his contract out – which is effective, by the way, till 2016 – please, contact us. However, at this point there have been no offers and no requests for that. And we shall not sanction this fight," said Kluch to Boxen Heute.

Boytsov, who is ranked #4 by the WBA and #5 by the WBO, hasn’t been seen in the ring since April 2012, and has fought just four times against second-tier opponents over the last three years. Meanwhile, Universum is battling a painful financial disease and filed for bankruptcy in November 2012.

Tags: Denis Boytsov