Sebastian Sylvester (24-2, 11 KOs) will defend his WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Title against Alessio Furlan (18-7, 8 KOs) on March 3 after European Champion Amin Asikainen was forced to pull out of a potential rematch due to a back injury. "I would have loved to win back the title from Asikainen," Sylvester said. "But now I have to put aside Furlan. On my way up to the top it does not matter who I beat."

Asikainen surprisingly won the European Championship belt from Sylvester last June when he scored an eighth-round TKO-stoppage. "I still have revenge on my mind," said Sylvester. "I want to erase that memory. But the rematch has to wait. I´ll shift my full attention to Furlan now." Sylvester last saw off Australia´s Peter Mitrevski Junior shortly before Christmas when he floored the challenger with a big right to the head.