By Per Ake Persson
Mirco Ricci and Serhiy Demchenko (15-9-1) will clash in a battle of Italian light heavyweights on March 12 in Rome.
The bout will be contested for the vacant European Boxing Union (EBU) EU light heavywight title, on a show staged by Buccioni Boxing Team (BBT).
Ricci (17-2, 5KOs) was originally due to face Bob Ajisafe as per the terms of the purse bid won by BBT. However, Ajisafe was pulled from the show by his British backers, thus resulting in Demchenko (15-9-1, 11KOs) sliding in as perhaps an unqualified but available replacement.
The 36-year old Demchenko was born and raised in Ukraine but relocated to Rome, where he turned pro in 2004. His first 15 pro bouts have taken place in his adopted home land, but hasn't fought there since as this will mark his first ring appearance back in Italy since 2009.
Perhaps it will bring back some of the magic he enjoyed at the start of his career, as he is 2-7-1 over the course of the six-year, 10-fight road trip.
Ricci has won his last six starts since a close loss to Dominic Boesel in Oct. '13. Included among his current streak is a 12-round points win last February over previously unbeaten Enrico Koelling, against whom Demchenko dropped an eight-round decision in his most recent start last December.
