By Per Ake Persson
Danish media reports that WBA and WBC super middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler is sidelined with a cold and thus far has not sparred with Brian Magee, who arrived in Copenhagen this past weekend. Kessler is expected to be back in full training within a few days and the fight against Joe Calzaghe on November 3 shouldn´t be affected. Magee is in Denmark until October 14.
WBO I/C heavy champ Aleksander Dimitrenko defends against German veteran Timo Hoffmann on November 17 on a Universum Box Promotion at the Boerdeland Arena in Magdeburg. WIBF featherweight queen Ina Menzer co-headlines.
Cuban stars Yuriorkis Gamboa, based in Germany with Arena, and Yan Barthelemy, based in Florida but also with Arena, will make their US debuts on October 30 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on the undercard to a show headlined by Edison Miranda.
OPI 2000 has postponed Andrea Sarritzu´s defense of the EBU flyweight title that was set for October 12 against Spaniard Rafael Lozano. A new date will be announced within shortly.
Zauerbek Baysangurov defends the EBU 154 lb title on November 17 in Kiev against Roman Dzuman, who comes off a controversial draw against Ivan Gontsa for the EE-EU belt.
Finnish Steel Ring promotes in Yliharma November 2 with heavyweight Juha Haapoja on top of a pro/am bill. Haapoja is then expected to fight Sami Elovaara in December with the national title at stake.
EBU welterweight king Jackson Osei Bonsu is said to be in great shape for his upcoming defence against Frenchman Nordine Mouchi October 27 in Mazures, France. Sparring is as always difficult to find for the very hardpunching Belgian.
Looks like Italian veteran Michele Piccirillo will get a crack at WBC jr. middleweight champ Vernon Forrest December 1 in the US.
The Swedish Boxing Federation have received a general permission from the Martial Arts Delegation to give permission to promoters to stage shows. Previously a promoter applied to the Federation, got permission but then the promoter had to apply to MAD as well. The rules however are unchanged: fights can last a maximum of 12 minutes and ten ounce gloves used in all weigh divisions. The general permission last through December of 2008. This means less paperwork for all involved but if professional boxing can endure at least another year with the current rules and survive is an open question.
