By Per Ake Persson
Belarus fighter Yuri Romanov has relinquished the EBU lightweight title. Romanov, having beaten Tontcho Tonchev, Stefano Zoff and Jonathan Thaxton, just couldn´t see the point in facing the man be beat to win the title, Spaniard Juan Melero Diaz, again. Yuri will now concentrate on getting a shot at WBA title and will be with co-manager Philippe Fondu in Tokyo when stablemate Paulus Moses boxes on the undercard to Alfaro-Kobori. Diaz Melero and Andrei Kudriavtsev will fight for the vacant title.
Brit Neil Sinclair is new opponent for EU welterweight champ Daniele Petrucci on June 7 in Rome after Antonio Lauri pulled out.
WBA light flyweight champ Brahim Asloum will defend the title against Mexican Giovanni Segura in July, promoter Michel Acaries announced earlier this week.
Correction: It was the UBO I/C title that was at stake between Ashira vs. Thiam in Fredrikssund, Denmark, April 19, and not the UBC I/C title as I wrongly reported.
Speaking of titles: the WBC has formed a Baltic Sea Championship title that is open for the countries surrounding the Baltic Sea. Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The new organization will have Russian Edmund Lipinski as President.
The French Grand Tornoi Tournament continues on May 15 at the Cirque d´Hiver in Paris. Again, all fights are at middleweight but are now scheduled for eight. Hassan N´Dam N´Jikam face Medhi Amar and Pierre Moreno squares off against Afif Belgecham. The show is headlined by Anthony Mezaache defending the French lightweight title against Loic Faure.
Ukrainian cruiserweight veteran Aleksander Gourov pulled out of the planned EE-EU clash against Enad Licina and will now be featured on the big show on July 12 in Odessa with heavyweights David Tua and Roman Greenberg.
Team Palle have heavyweight Claus Bertino and middleweight Thomas Povlsen on the undercard to Jensen vs. Monrose May 3 in Marseille.
German heavyweight Luan Krasniqi is openly critical - not for the first time - in Bild Zeitung towards Universum for the way he feels they have handled his affairs. Luan was all set to fight for the EBU title against Aleksandre Dimitrenko earlier this year but the fight fell through when Dimitrenko withdrew. Krasniqi has been inactive since losing to Tony Thompson in July of last year after a very flat performance.
More Bild Zeitung: Cruiserweight Marco Huck has left new trainer Manfred Wolke. Huck was previously trained by Ulli Wegner but left for Wolke after losing to Steve Cunningham in a challenge for the IBF title. Who will train Marco in the future isn´t decided.
Finnish Steel Ring have shows lined up for May 17 in Turku and May 24 in Oulu. In Turko welter Jakko Myllala headlines while Jarno Ruotsalainen and Marat Khuzeev clash in a BBU titlefight in Oulu at welter.
Italian heavyweight Paolo Vidoz fights on the undercard to Lynes vs. Branco on May 16 Torino.
