By Alexey Sukachev
After a short span of inactivity the European Boxing Association (WBA continental branch) is back to action with several title match-ups in the upcoming month, which will be held all across Europe and even in Africa.
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This coming Sunday May 16th 27-year old Innocent Anyanwu, the Netherlander of Nigerian origin, clashes against experienced Portuguese veteran Antonio Joao Bento (21-8-2, 11 KOs), 33, for a vacant EBA super featherweight title. The fight will be held at Dudok Arena in Hilversum, Holland, under the Real Fighters promotion. Anyanwu (20-0-2, 13 KOs) is the reigning Dutch and BeNeLux 130lb beltholder. He was first scheduled to face Spain-based Angel Ramirez but the latter was forced to pull out so that the former WBA I/C, WBO I/C and IBF I/C multi-titlist has taken his hot spot.
Also on the card, popular Belgian cruiserweight Ismail Abdoul (33-17-2, 13 KOs) will make a step up in weight to face Dutchman Andre Janssens (8-1, 6 KOs) in a heavyweight non-title six-rounder.
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In less than a week, on May 21st, another vacant EBA title will be contested in Kiev, Ukraine, between local lightweight Valentyn Kuts (20-1, 8 KOs) and Sweden-based Ugandan 135lber Sam Rukundo (15-1-1, 6 KOs). Kuts, 29, is a southpaw stylist, whose only loss was due to a controversial decision against Swiss Roberto Belge in December 2008. Rukundo, 30, is best known for representing his homeland Uganda in 2004 Athens Olympics (lost in quarterfinal). He has suffered his lone pro loss this February dropping close but clear-cut decision to Gary Buckland.
The entire show will be arranged at “Freestyle” sports complex by the up-and-coming Elite Boxing Promotions (Roman Valesiuk) and will feature yet another title match-up. Stocky (5’4’’) WBA I/C middleweight titlist and reigning EBA titleholder Avtandil Khurtsidze (20-1-2, 12 KOs) will put the former of his titles at risk against Hungarian veteran Mihaly Kotai (36-3-1, 16 KOs). It will be the fifth title defense for WBA #5 and WBO #11 ranked middleweight.
Young guns Daniyar Hanyk (6-0, 3 KOs), who has just turned 17, Igor Fanyan (9-0-1, 6 KOs), Victor Postol (9-0, 7 KOs), Timur Ahundov (10-2, 4 KOs) and Dmytro Kucher (8-0, 7 KOs) will constitute an undercard of the show.
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On June 5 EBA enters the African kingdom of Morocco to hold there their next title match-up. It is where highly touted Frenchman Ali Hallab (7-0, 5 KOs), 29, will got the chance to acquire his first ever pro belt against reigning IBC super bantamweight titlist Alexander Vladimirov (9-3-1, 4 KOs), 30. This time a vacant EBA 122lb belt will be at stake. Hallab is best known for his amateur achievements. He was two-time Olympian (in 2004 and 2008) for France and three times world amateur championship participant winning the bronze medal in 2005.
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Yet another EBA title fight for a vacant 200lb title can be announced soon for June 10th in Saint-Etienne, France, between local hero and French cruiserweight champion Rachid El-Hadak (19-8-1, 7 KOs), 36, and Czech veteran Roman Kracik (31-3-1, 17 KOs). Both fighters collided to a six-round draw merely two years ago in Brno, Czech Republik.
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More info about these and other EBA boxing activities can be found on the official portal of the European Boxing Association: www.europeboxing.com.
