By Per Ake Persson
Ricardo Mayorga vs Michele Piccirillo for the vacant WBC 154 lb is a distinct possibility for the near future. - It´s 90% certain, says Christian Cherchi of OPI 2000, who promotes Piccirillo, but when is not clear at this moment although August 13 has been mentioned. Piccirillo is also the official challenger for EBU champ Sergej Dzindziruk but that fight - originally scheduled for June 18 - is postponed as Dzindziruk is injured.
Croatian Stepjan Bozic won the vacant WBF 168 lb title this weekend with a close decision over Australian Nader Hamdan, June 3 in Zagreb, all three judges scored it 115-112. Hamdan was down in the eighth. The event was live on national TV and did well but the turnout in the arena was hurt by a soccer game featuring the Croatian team.
The TWBA 168 lb clash between Manda Mukadi and Finn Kai Kauramaki, planned for June 10 in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast, has been cancelled for unclear reasons. Kauramaki will now get a six-rounder on the Jannax Promotion´s show in Porvoo June 18. Opponent is to be announced.
Belgian puncher Jackson Osei Bonsu will now face Hungarian Janos Petrovics June 11 in Charleroi in his first defence of the IBC 147 lb title. Bonsu was to have fought Belorussian Sasha Shnip who pulled out with an injury.
There will be a good show in Lugano, Switzerland, June 25, topped by jr welter Giuseppe Lauri defending the IBF I/C title against Hungarian Laszlo Komjathi. Giuseppe´s brother Antonio takes on Pole Slawomir Ziemlewicz at welter. Cruiser prospect Loris Emiliani goes for the vacant IBF Youth title against Russian Dmitry Lyakhovski.
French jr middle Christophe Cancleaux, once signed to Don King Productions, returns June 10 after almost 18 months out against Slovakian Richard Remen. Canclaux was upset by Jimmy Colas in his last outing.
Vincenzo Imparato defends the Italian supermiddle title June 10 in Gallarate against Lorenzo Cosseddu.
British superbantam Esham Pickering retained the EBU 122 lb title on June 9th, in Alcobendas, Spain, with a tenth round stoppage of Miguel Mallon. The Spaniard was in a close lead after six rounds but got tired, was behind after nine and then floored in the tenth. On the undercard middleweight Pablo Navascues impressed with a first round knockout of Hungarian Szabolcs Rimovzsky. Fight of the night was Franklin Teran´s points win over Wellington Vicente in a superbantam clash. In a mismatch over six, Dutch heavy Richel Hersisia, 24-1, whacked out Slovakian Vlado Szabo, 0-11, in the fourth.
Sauerland Event has announced that WBA I/C 160 lb champ Arthur Abraham will defend the title against Brit Howard Eastman July 16 in Nuremberg. Also set is Sebastian Sylvester´s challenge against EBU middleweight ruler Morrade Hakkar with Danilo Haussler vs Cristian Sanavia in the third headliner for the vacant WBA I/C 168 lb belt.
Welters Stephane Jacob and Turgay Uzun clash for the vacant WBF I/C title June 11 in Calais.
Dutchman Hans Janssen and Belgian Mike Algoet go at it again July 9 in Eindhoven with Algoet´s BeNeLux supermiddle title at stake. The favored Janssen lost an upset decision to Algoet in March. This will be the sole pro fight on an amateur card.
