by Tamas Pradarics
Undefeated Imre Szello headlines a nine-bout card this coming Friday in Salgotarjan, Hungary. The 34-year-old fighter will meet Robert Hall Jr in the second defense of his WBO Inter-Continental cruiserweight title.
Szello (18-0, 11 KO’s) is currently ranked No. 6 by the WBO at 200 pounds and planning to get new experiences against his American foe en route to a world title fight. This will be the fourth appearance of the Hungarian contender this year. Szello last fought in September when he dispatched journeyman Petar Mrvalj in two rounds.
The American Hall Jr (11-0, 8 KO’s) turned pro in 2013 and stepped up in competition last December when he decisioned unbeaten Dimar Ortuz in ten rounds to win the WBC United States cruiserweight title.
”I am so happy for this opportunity that I got from my manager, Felix Racz. Robert Hall Jr is a quality opponent. There are few available fight tapes about him but we used them to analyze his style. We are doing great work in the gym, measuring all details because we are aware of the significance of this title defense. I am looking forward to producing my best performance against my toughest opponent to date,” said Szello to BoxingScene.com.
Light heavyweight Richard Baranyi and Mate Kis are facing off in a crossroads bout to discuss who is the best 175-pounder in the country. The two are fighting for the vacant Hungarian title in ten rounds. Baranyi (19-2, 13 KO’s) lost by a first-round TKO against highly powerful British prospect Anthony Yarde in July and won a tune-up since. Kis (9-0-2, 6 KO’s) is a young and unbeaten offensive-minded up-and-comer. Baranyi is more of a boxer while Kis is a brawler. This fight has the potential to become one nice little encounter stylewise.
After having a fight at super welterweight, reigning Hungarian middleweight champ Balazs Bacskai is returning to 160 pounds against Salehe Mkalekwa in a six rounder. Bacskai (2-0, 1 KO), who had a deep amateur pedigree, showed his skills last June when he won the national championship in his pro debut.
The 29-year-old pugilist is already regarded as the best Hungarian prospect. The Tanzanian Mkalekwa (10-3, 2 KO’s) was originally scheduled to be the opponent of Bacskai in September but he was unable to leave his country due to visa issues.
WBO Youth super middleweight titlist Renato Egedi will face Tanzanian Joseph Sinkala (13-10-1, 7 KO’s) in a scheduled six-round non-title bout. Egedi (10-1-2, 5 KO’s) won his belt in an outstanding performance in September against Ukranian Davyd Gorohovets whom he stopped in five rounds. The Hungarian titleholder, who is only 22 years old, is scheduled to appear in the world rankings by the WBO in the near future.
140-pound prospects Balazs Marton and Zoltan Surman Jr, exciting cruiserweight Gabor Detre, heavyweight Tibor Krakovszky and debutant Elvio Antonietti will see action against separated opposition.
The event is promoted by leading Hungarian boxing promoter Felix Racz’s Felix Promotion and televised live by Hungarian national sports broadcaster, M4 Sport.
You can reach Tamas Pradarics at pradaricst@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TomiPradarics.
