By Alexey Sukachev

This Saturday night two of four best Russian cruiserweights (aside Grigory Drozd and Valery Brudov) will collide at Sport and Congress Center in Schwerin, Germany, when unbeaten WBO #1 and IBF #5 kayo artist Denis Lebedev (20-0, 15 KOs) is taking on WBO #2 and IBF #12 once-defeated hard-hitter Alexander Alexeev (19-1, 17 KOs) in the final WBO 200lb eliminator. It’s a rare case when two highly decorated Russian former amateurs clash against each other at pro ranks in a contest of such a big importance. Unfortunately, this fight is set to go not in Russia but abroad, at Alexeev’s adopted boxing homeland.

Team Lebedev (including manager Vladimir Hryunov and trainer Valery Belov) arrived in Schwerin on Sunday noon. Yesterday both Lebedev and Alexeev attended a presser to announce their upcoming collision and to face each other at last.

“I’m very glad to finally get a chance”, said Alexeev. “I have been awaiting it for a long time and now I’m going to realize it. I’m fully focused on the upcoming contest. I’ll think about Marko Huck later; right now all I want to think of is Denis Lebedev”.

“I’m sure an upcoming fight will be very intensive”, replied Lebedev. “Everybody will see both our strengths and our weaknesses. And, certainly, the best and the heaviest of my punches will be displayed. Alexander is a tough opponent but I’m tougher and I’ll prove it big time”.

Vladimir Hryunov thanked Universum Box-Promotion for their work and invited fans to the fight, “I sincerely thank Universum for their tremendous work and hospitality. This contest will surely be one of the most memorable in recent times and it’ll be exceptionally intensive. I’m ensured it’ll live up to standards of such battles as, say, Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield!”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Up-and-coming Russian talent Denis Shafikov (23-0, 13 KOs) will continue his comeback on July 22 in Jurmala, Latvia, against Mexican journeyman Leonardo Resendiz (23-24, 15 KOs) in a scheduled eight-rounder.

“We keep Denis busy”, said his manager Oleg Bogdanov. “He fights on July 22 against an overmatched fighter to maintain his high European ranking. He will take another tune-up on Sep. 3, and on Oct. 22 Shafikov will be ready to fight in a minor world or continental title match-up”.

Shafikov was last seen in the ring on June 30 in the first-round demolition of trialhorse Bobir Normatov. Resendiz lost all but one fight inside the distance. The main event will see WBO #14 Tajik Sherali “The Lion” Mamadaliev (11-0, 7 KOs) defend his PABA and WBO Europe welterweight titles against Russian Alexey Evchenko (8-7-1, 4 KOs). Alexey Ivanov of “Orizzonte” co-promotes with the Jab Promotions.

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On Friday night Matthew Hatton (39-4-2, 15 KOs) defends his European welterweight title against former WBA 147lb champion Yuri Nuzhnenko (30-1-1, 14 KOs) of Ukraine. Good news for Ukrainian boxing fans. The First National TV channel (UT-1) will televise the contest on a slightly delayed basis starting 1:20 AM (Kiev time). The fight itself starts at midnight (Kiev time). UT-1 will repeat the broadcast in a week since its original date.

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Top Belarussian promoter/manager Valery Kaplia of M.A.K. Promotions Group unifies his efforts with Martin Spott of Medea Promotion and well-known Belgian boxing personality Philippe Fondu from World Sport Promotion to arrange a huge show at Reactor Club in Minsk on July 31. No less than 15 bouts are pre-planned, and witnesses will have a chance to see a variety of different contest, including title fights, world-ranked boxers and cross-roaders between undefeated prospects.

Recently created Ukrainian stable Elite Boxing Promotions is set to make a major contribution to the tournament bringing there (WBA #3 and WBO #9) WBA I/C and EBA master Avtandil Khurtsidze (21-12, 12 KOs) for a non-title ten-rounder. Khurtsidze, who is coming off a stoppage win over Mihaly Kotai, collides with tough and dangerous veteran Sergey Khomitskiy (22-7-1, 9 KOs), who has recently created a major upset by stopping Brit Jamie Moore in his backyard.

There will be two pairs of unbeaten prospects (both male and female) crossing their ways in the ring. Super middleweight Salambek Baysangurov (5-0, 3 KOs) takes on Olexander Cherviak (8-0, 1 KO) while Russian super featherweight Marina Krasheninnikova (8-0, 3 KOs) battles local pride Diana Zinevich (3-0). Both contests are scheduled for six rounds.

Also scheduled to appear on the card are two of the best Belarussian fighters: ex-world title challenger Sergey Gulyakevich (29-2, 13 KOs), presently ranked #1 by the WBC, #6 by the WBO and #9 by the IBF, and light middleweight Sergey Rabchenko (13-0, 9 KOs). Also, Andrey Salahutdinov (11-2, 2 KOs) will test his skills against no-hoper Alexey Kanovka (2-12) for a national middleweight belt and Czech Jaromir Soukup (22-1, 17 KOs) faces veteran Dmitry Adamovich (15-25, 7 KOs) over six. Czech-based Georgian Sandro Siproshvili (23-6, 10 KOs) and Czech prospect Michal Dufek (7-0, 5 KOs) will be featured as well.

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Local promoter Alexander Petrov staged a tiny show of three fights at Volna in Tolyatti, Russia. Russian super middleweight champion Konstantin Piternov (11-0, 3 KOs) continued his winning streak with a workmanlike eight-round unanimous decision over well-known journeyman Artem Vychkin (8-26, 2 KOs). Also comebacking cruiserweight Vitaly Mugunov (12-3, 1 KO) easily decisioned 45-year old veteran Teymuraz Kekelidze (16-3-1, 12 KOs) also over eight.