By Per Ake Persson
EBU 147 lb champ Oktay Urkal will now make a voluntary defense of the title on September 3 in Berlin after mandatory challenger Thomas Damgaard pulled out. Who Urkal will fight isn´t clear yet but there´s a short list of four possible challengers. The show - topped by Markus Beyer vs Omar Sheika - has been moved from Deutschlandhalle to the nearby 6 000 seater ICC-Center due to construction work.
Hollywood,CA-based Swedish middle Peter Nylund returns to action on September 30 in Burbank.
Polish Boxing Europe had a show this past weekend with Marcin Piatkowski outscoring Sasha Shnip over ten for the Polish Int´l 154 lb title. Boxing Europe have their next show set for September 30 with supermiddle Roman Skharupa headlining and heavyweight prospect Mariusz Wach on the undercard.
Promising Serbian middle Dejan Ribac moved to 8-0 with a points win over Croatian spoiler Ivica Cukusic on August 5 in Budva.
Swede Robert Nordman staged an amateur show at his own restaurant on August 20, the event took place on the island of Vrango. Nordman, 3-3-1 in the pros at lightheavy and cruiser, will headline in an exhibition that again will test the law that prohibits professional boxing in this country since 1970. As for future profights, Robert don´t rule a comeback of sorts.
Finnish Steel Ring will have a press conference in Lulea, Sweden, on August 11 to announce their new signing. The local paper was however fast out of the gate and already wrote on July 17 that the new signing is Kalle Larsson, who will campaign at superbantam. The contract is for three fights. Larsson has won two national championships.
US-based Swedish lightweight Shadi Hamsho, 5-0, says he might have a final four-rounder in late August, in Texas, before moving up to six-rounders.
