By Per Ake Perrson
WBC super middleweight champion Markus Beyer has resigned with Sauerland Event for another two years. The parties came to a verbal agreement last week, but worked out teh final details in Leipzig this weekend. Beyer states that he is happy to be able to continue to work with trainer Ulli Wegner.
Hungarian flyweight Robert Isazegi has had his purse withheld by the Spanish Federation after losing to EBU champ Ivan Pozo on a dubious first round TKO. The 40-year old Isazegi came in as a late sub and had problems making the weight. According to ringside reports, he never attempted to fight and went down as soon as he was hit. After a second similar "knockdown" the fight was stopped. This kind of performance has probably never been seen in a EBU title fight. In June, Isazegi (18-2) was knocked out in four against EU bantamweight champ Carmelo Ballone for his first loss as a pro. Isazegi won bronze medal in the 88 Olympics.
According to L´Equipe, promoter Michel Acaries is looking into a staging a fight between WBA 112 lb champion Luis Parra and his WBO counterpart Omar Narvaez - both beat French challengers on December 5 in Paris. If it all works out, the winner of Parra vs Narvaez could then face a hopefully rejuvenated Brahim Asloum, who already lost to Parra, at the end of 2006. Asloum will also change trainers, from Louis Acaries to his former trainer Jean Molina.
New IBF I/C champ Henry Akinwande will have to face Cisse Salif within 60 days. Salif was originally set to fight Akinwande this past Saturday in Leipzig, but couldn´t make the trip due to visa problems. Salif´s agent Johnny Bos claims Sauerland Event simply got cold feet and avoided Salif. Instead Ed Mahone made the trip and was outclassed by the still very capable veteran.
WBA welterweight champ Luis Collazo´s defense against German Oktay Urkal is still up in the air and because time is running out - it appears the fight won't happen on January 28 in Berlin. A more likely scenario, is to hold another round of purse bids as Don King, who won the first round, has been unable to stage the fight.
Talented Ukrainian jr. middleweight Zauerbek Baysangourov is now signed to Sauerland Event. Baysangourov currently resides in Moscow and was previously promoted by National Boxing Promotions in Kiev.
