By Per Ake Persson
Sauerland Event will promote the WBC heavyweight eliminator between Sinan Samil Sam and Oleg Maskaev on November 12 at the Sporthalle (formerly the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle) in Hamburg. Sam´s WBC Int´l title is also at stake. EBU 160 lb ruler Sebastian Sylvester takes on Lorenzo Di Giacomo in the co-headliner. Sauerland Event plans to have WBA champ John Ruiz defend the title against Nikolai Valuev on December 17 in Berlin, with EBU ruler Paolo Vidoz taking on Cengiz Koc in the chief support.
Don King held court at the press conference that followed Valuev vs Larry Donald and stated he would make a protest to the WBA about the majority decision in Valuev´s favor. "The booing crowd saw what the judges didn´t" said King.
"May I remind Mr. King of a night in Stuttgart nine years ago when the crowd was very unhappy (Frans Botha decision win over A. Schulz, a result that was later changed into a no contest) and Don King said it was the judges at ringside that were closest to the ring and therefor knew what was right or wrong" said Wilfried Sauerland.
This shut King up for a short split second, but he then said the atmosphere was different in the wonderful town of Oldenburg where people really knew their boxing. "Ich bin auch ein Oldenburger" smiled King waving German flags. "When I came here I didn´t look for what Oldenburg could do for me, but what I could do for Oldenburg! I love Oldenburg!!"
US-based Nigeran heavy Henry Akinwande was ringside and agreed that the fight was close but he felt Valuev had nicked it. Henry expects to be back in Germany for Sauerland Event´s December 10 show in Leipzig - a show that might be topped by WBC 168 lb ruler Markus Beyer in a voluntary defense.
Norwegian amateur star Nikita Dubunin has signed with Tor Kragebuen and will make his debut on October 14 in Dolores (Spain). Kragebuen´s heavyweight Leif Dolonen Larsen is also on the show that is topped by bantamweight Kiko Martinez. Jr welterweight Emiliano Casal may take on Patrik Prokopecz and will do some sparring in Madrid.
