By Per Ake Persson

 

figosport.de writes that WBA superchamp Felix Sturm is not only is fighting Universum in the courts but also faces the Klitschko brothers who refuse to have Felix fighting for "their" network, RTL. With this in mind, figosport writes, that we might see a collaboration between Sturm and Arena Box Promotion, who have Sat 1 as their network partner. Arena also have a suitable opponent for Sturm in Mahir Oral, a good but light punching boxer, which might be what the champ needs when he returns September 4.

 

There was a time when "Europe" was more or less banned from using anything other than the EBU, the European Boxing Union, but times have changed and now the WBO European title, the EBA - the European Boxing Association - more or less a regional subtitle to the WBA after a rocky few years when they were independent after a controvers with the WBA  - and others as well but how much under threat is the EBU? If one looks at the show in Odessa this past weekend EBA heavy champ Alexander Ustinov beat Paolo Vidoz, a former EBU champ on a three bout losing streak. Welterweight ruler Viktor Plotnikov´s sole loss came in a challenge to win the EBU title and the man he beat, Christian Bladt, is also a former EBU king, but has a very mixed record in the last few years so qualitywise the rivals have a long way to go.

 

The World Series of Boxing, AIBA`s project to get a piece of the cake in professional boxing, is set to begin in November of this year. It will consist of twelve teams, with independently owned companies, and AIBA plans (hopes) for the best amateurs to compete without helmets and vests in a tournament with semi-professional boxing rules. Heading a French team is former WBA light flyweight champ Brahim Asloum but there´s been very little said about who will participate of the boxers and even less said about how the Tournament itself is progressing.

 

Czech jr middleweight Lukas Konecny take on EBU champ Ryan Rhodes in the UK September 11. Konecny, signed to SES, have previously lost a close call to WBO ruler Sergey Dzinziruk and holds two wins over Khoren Gevor.

 

Universum will feature prospects Jack Culcay and Rakhim Chakiev on the undercard to Arslan vs. Herelius on July 3 in Stuttgart. "Golden" Jack faces Frenchman Yoann Camonin while Chakiev is in against Pole Lukasz Rusiewicz. Polish network Polsat will televise the show and has as usual a guy on the undercard and this time it´s veteran lightweight Matt Zegan, who at one time was signed with Don King Productions.

 

Pole Kazmierz Pazdior has passed away at the age of 75 in Wroclaw. Pazdior won Olympic Gold in 1960 at lightweight and also won the European championships in 1957 beating Finland´s Olli Maeki in the finals.