By Per Ake Persson
EBU middleweight champ Amin Asikainen is off the planned defense against German Sebastian Sylvester on March 3 in Rostock due to a back injury. Asikainen is unable to train until February 25. Sauerland Event won purse bids in late November and wanted to stage the fighton March 3 but the Finns protested and as a result Sauerland put it on the Valuev vs. McCline show in Basel on January 20.
However, Sylvester then defended the WBA I/C title on December 16 and was injured and the fight was again put back to March 3. Asikainen then wanted to do a voluntary defense on February 10 but was after a protest from Sauerland forced to move it back to January 30 when he defeated Lorenzo Di Giacomo.
Sauerland will go ahead with the March 3 show in Rostock that also features Alejandro Berrio vs. Robert Stieglitz for the vacant IBF light heavyweight title. Sylvester, reigning WBA I/C champ, is on the bill as well but against who isn´t clear yet.
