By Per Ake Persson
Middleweight Dominik Britsch, reigning IBF Youth champ, is with more famous stablemate Arthur Abraham in Detroit and is in against Matt Berkshire on the undercard to Abraham vs Dirrell at Joe Louis Arena March 26, It´s the US debut for the 22-year old Britsch, 17-0, who´s one of the new faces in the Sauerland stable.
EBU middleweight champ Matthew Macklin is off the planned defence of the title April 16 after suffering a broken nose in sparring. Macklin was first lined up to fight Russian Dimitrij Pirog who withdrew, then Khoren Gevor agreed to fight Macklin but later pulled out. Swiss Yves Studer was then brought in but suffered a hand injury and now Macklin himself is out so the date is off completely. Mandatory challenger is Khoren Gevor, who had expected to fight Macklin inside 90 days from April 16.
Juho Haapoja, the reinstated Finnish heavyweight champ, beat Latvian Pavels Dolgovs this past weekend but now plans to relinquish his title and move down to cruiser. Juho weighs at just a little over 100 kilos and feels his chances are better at cruiser. Haapoja lost the national title last year to Jarno Rosberg but was given the belt back after Rosberg tested positive for an illegal substance.
Alexander Frenkel, Germany, and promoted by Sauerland, and Alexander Kotlobay from Russia and with Jab Promotions, are now co-challengers for the vacant EBU cruiserweight title. The EBU have set April 9 as deadline for pursebids or agreement. This is an exellent matchup between two hardpunching prospects so let´s hope it comes off.
Baltic Pro Box are planning to have heavies Ray Mercer, Robert Daniels and Attila Levin on the undercard to Joey Abell vs Al Cole in Kampala. Promoter Eddie Bazira hasn´t finalized the date yet but will be sometime during May.
