By Per Ake Persson
WBC Int´l middleweight champ Mahir "Lion" Oral broke his hand in sparring and cannot defend the title as planned against Italian Domenico Spada October 19 in Berlin. Oral has agreed to relinquish the title to give stablemate Alpaslan Aguzum, who made his debut at 160 on September 21 in Luebeck, the chance to contest for the vacant belt against Spada October 19. There will all in be all 12 fights on the bill topped by Oliver McCall vs. Juan Carlos Gomez.
Universum have announced three more titlefights for the Sturm vs .Griffin show October 20 in Halle / Westfalen. WBA I/C heavy champ Taras Bidenko faces Brazilian George Arias, WBO I/C 140 lb titleholder Willy Blain defends against Stephane Benito in an all-French matchup and finally Int´l German super middleweight ruler Lukas Wilaschek is in against South African Peter Mashamaite
AMI Production and network Canal+ will do a French version of the Contender during 2008. The competition is open for A and B classified fighters with a French license between 71 and 75 kg (156-165 lbs). The final 16 will be selected by October.
Sauerland Event withdrew Danish super middleweight Mads Larsen as co-challenger for the vacant EU title at the last moment. Larsen will now fight a non-title fight October 27 in Erfurt on the Povetkin vs Byrd bill. The EBU is now looking for someone else to fight Italian veteran Lorenzo Di Giacomo.
French light heavyweights Kamel Amrane and Christophe Dettinger clash for the vacant national title October 30 in Massy.
Florida-based Swedish heavyweight Attila Levin, 29-3 and last seen in 2005 getting stopped by Nikolai Valuev, is in training for a comeback. Levin have been sparring with regularly with Oliver McCall. Attila might return late October.
WBO light heavyweight champ Zsolt Erdei is rumored to be defending the title November 24. This would be on the same show where the EBU ruler at 175, Thomas Ulrich, face Yuri Barashian. Site is likely to be Dresden.
Comebacking German Kai Kurzawa will move up to cruiserweight and face Pole Wojicech Bartnik November 17 in Schwedt. Kurzawa, 22-3, was first with Sauerland Event and then a short spell with Elite Box Promotion and is now with Arena. The show in Schwedt is promoted by Wiking Box Team.
