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Danish superstar Mikkel Kessler (41-1, 31 KOs) has signed a promotional contract with the German boxing team. “We are thrilled to welcome one of the world´s most popular and most respected boxers to the Sauerland family,” General Manager Chris Meyer said at a press conference in Copenhagen. “We have big plans for Mikkel.”
King Arthur Abraham has returned to Germany´s capital following an exhausting training camp at the Baltic Sea. The undefeated IBF Middleweight Champion (29-0, 23 KOs) is determined to defend his title for the 10th time when he takes on Mahir Oral (25-1, 10 KOs) on Saturday night. “Everything went very well in practice,” King Arthur said. “We had everything we needed in Zinnowitz – fresh air, the sea, good food and a decent gym.”
King Arthur´s June 27 fight against Mahir Oral will be broadcast by U.S. premium television network SHOWTIME. "That is a big honour for Arthur," Kalle Sauerland said. "It does not happen very often that fights from Germany are on U.S. television. It tells you something about Arthur´s class."
Sebastian Sylvester is determined to fight for the world title again soon. He could make a giant stride into the right direction with a victory over Lajuan Simon. The duo will come face-to-face on the Abraham undercard in Berlin on June 27. Sylvester will defend his IBF International Middleweight Title, with the bout also serving as an eliminator for the IBF number 2 spot. Giovanni Lorenzo, who will face King Arthur this fall, is currently in the top spot. “If Sebastian defeats Simon we would be very well positioned within the IBF, with Arthur the champion and Sebastian the number 2,” Sauerland Event General Manager Chris Meyer said.
In response to complaints from Nikolai Valuev and Sauerland Event that Ruslan Chagaev and Universum are spreading incorrect information, the WBA clarified on Tuesday that Valuev is the WBA world champion and Chagaev is merely the champion in recess. A May 30th showdown between Valuev and Chagaev was derailed when Chagaev’s uncertain hepatitis levels caused the Finnish boxing commission to declare him unfit to fight. Since then, Chagaev and Universum issued press releases stating Chagaev is the WBA champion, a claim now refuted by Tuesday’s letter. Chagaev has protested the Finnish ruling, and the matter is in the hands of the WBA. The sanctioning body’s attorneys have now put in writing that Chagaev's status as champion in recess is "under review" and Valuev remains the world champion. Chagaev is expected to face IBF/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko on June 20th in Germany, where the hepatitis regulations are looser than in Finland and most of the world. The WBA’s attorney letter also states that neither Chagaev, Klitschko nor their representatives have requested a WBA sanction of the event, which “is unlikely to be granted.” Valuev and Sauerland will make no attempt to stop Chagaev from fighting Klitschko, but have demanded that Valuev’s status as champion not be further confused by a WBA sanction of Klitschko-Chagaev. A copy of the WBA letter is attached for reference.
Undefeated IBF middleweight champion King Arthur Abraham and Ulli Wegner made a brief trip to Zagreb this week where the shooting for the Max Schmeling movie has begun. With Henry Maske impersonating one of the biggest German sporting heroes of all time, Abraham will play Richard Vogt, Schmeling´s last opponent. Just as in real life, Ulli Wegner will be in his corner. “It is a great honour and pleasure for both of us to be a part of this movie,” King Arthur said. “Working at the set is almost as hard as a training session. But it was a lot of fun.” The movie will hit cinemas in 2010.
After the late cancellation of last weekend´s title fight between WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev and “champion in recess” Ruslan Chagaev, Wilfried Sauerland, Valuev´s manager, has given an exclusive interview, explaining the happenings in Helsinki and revealing additional background information.
The WBA will make a decision about the cancelled title fight between heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev and “champion in recess” Ruslan Chagaev in seven days. The fight was called off on late Friday evening because Chagaev could not fulfill the local medical requirements. “We are now waiting for the WBA´s decision,” Sauerland Event General Manager Chris Meyer said. “Of course Nikolai Valuev is the WBA heavyweight champion. Once again it showed that health-wise Ruslan Chagaev is not able to fight for the world title.”
The rematch between WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev has been called off after Chagaev was unable to fulfill the Finnish boxing federation´s medical requirements. Finnish law prevents disclosure of any further private health medical information.
Another celebrity has been confirmed for the first-ever heavyweight title fight on Finnish soil. Living legend Evander Holyfield will arrive on Friday evening to watch the rematch between Valuev and Chagaev from ringside. The “Real Deal” lost to the Russian Giant on points in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,500 fans in Zurich last December.