By Per Ake Persson
Former WBO flyweight champion Jose Antonio Lopez Bueno of Zaragoza, Spain, has announced his retirement - but he intends to go out with a farewell fight at home on May 8. Opponent is to be announced. Lopez Bueno, 36, has a record of 30-10-4 and never won the European title despite several attempts but back in 99 he did win the WBO crown.
Francois Botha vs Joey Abell in Kampala? Yes indeed it´s still to happen but the latest working date for this project is March 27. Botha vs Holyfield in the US? Well, there are talks of that too but in a business where money talks is the fact that Abell has received some funds to cover his training expenses is a clear sign of the direction this is going.
Universum Box Promotion returns after a brief layoff with a show at the Sporthall in Hamburg on April 24 headlined by WBA, WIBF and WBO female fly champ Susi Kentikian who is in against Nadia Raoui of France. Jr middleweight prospect "Golden" Jack Culcay is reportedly on the undercard. This is the final six months of Universum´s long term collaboration with ZDF and network is gradually "squeezing" out boxing on the air with very late beginnings - in this case 23.30.
Vitali Klitschko vs Nikolai Valuev? According to the always well informed German tabloid Bild Zeitung - a defence of Vitali´s WBC title - is in the works for May 29 in Gelsenkirchen where Wladmir Klitschko stopped Ruslan Chagaev last summer. However, as previously reported on BoxingScene.com, this arena must be booked in two weeks time and the deal is not yet done as Don King, who have a 50% promotional share of Valuev, asks for four million USD for his part. However, K 2, has other alternatives and the fight might land in Hamburg.
Jameel McCline´s comeback and European tour have been postponed until March from a planned February date.
