News

PERSSON'S EURO NEWS AND RESULTS

Newly crowned EBU heavyweight champ Robert Helenius handinjury was earlier in the week reported to be worse than it first indicated. Nothing is broken but there appears to be a hairline fracture in the right hand. It now appears that Alexander Dimitrenko have relinquished his position as mandatory challenger and that means Dereck Chisora can get this position but if he can get the EBU to order an immediate rematch with Helenius is a different story.

The once powerful Universum continues to struggle but have according to Bild plans for shows in Hamburg or Stuttgart January 21 and March 24 in Hamburg. The team is still strong and middleweight Sebastian Zbik is mandatory challenger for EBU middleweight king Grzegorz Proksa while jr light Vitali Tajbert is in the same position for Ermano Fegatilli. In both cases purse bids will be held next week.

Italian lightweight Carel Sandon, newphew of former middleweight champ Sumbu Kalambay, is reported to be in a coma after an attempt to committ suicide. Sandon lost to Samir Ziani in July in a big upset but was apparently already then suffering from depression.

EBU superbantam champ Kiko Martinez defends the title February 12 in Lyon, France, against Arsen Martirosyan. Martirosyan hails from Armenia but has been based in Lyon for a long time. Arsen lost to Martinez last year and it wasn´t even close so this is a big gamble from the promoters in Lyon.

German promoter, manager, trainer and ex-fighter Robert Rolle is looking to make a comeback January 27 in Berlin. Rolle, sidelined with eye problems for some time, is also the matchmaker for the show that also features heavyweight Erkan Teper.

Professional boxing was prohibited in Norway in 1980 but may now make a comeback of some kind. There will be a hearing in the Norwegian Parliament in January and with AIBA moving towards proboxing with their WBS series it´s unlikely that Norway will go against what in fact is an Olympic sport. Add to that Cecilia Braekhus´ success as a triple champ fighting in Denmark, Finland and Germany for Sauerland. However, some experts believe that the result will be similar to Sweden: professional boxing allowed but with special rules that makes it toothless and without public appeal.

Lightweight Sam Rukundo, 15-4-1, is now back in Uppsala, Sweden, after a spell as coach for the national team in Uganda. Sam represented Uganda in the 2004 Olympics but has been based in Sweden and London during his procareer. After four straight tough losses on the road Sam decided to take a break and got a position as coach for the Ugandan national team. He´s now looking to resume his career as a fighter with the position as coach still open.

Former WBO middleweight champ Armand Krajnc is now a trainer and is also looking to become a promoter. Armand have set March 24 as working date for his first show with Ystad in the very south of Sweden as the site. Krajnc trains Anna Donatella Hultin and newcomer Rastgar Ismaeeli and Hultin will headline the show.

Norwegian featherweight Andreas Evensen headlines P 3 Boxing´s final show of the year December 17 in Espoo, Finland. The show is staged at P 3 Boxing´s new gym where former EBU middleweight champ Amin Asikainen is headcoach. Evensen take on Spaniard Sergio Prado.

By Per-Åke Persson

PERSSON'S EURO RESULTS

Dec 3, Helsinki, FIN, Hartwall Arena, 12 738 paying customers, Sauerland, P 3 Boxing and Live Nation, SAN

Robert Helenius, 108,6, Fin W12-S Dereck Chisora, 110,2, UK

Helenius won the vacant EBU and retained the WBO and WBA I/C titles with a controversial split decision over Dereck Chisora. The challenger showed right away he had the speed and moves to make it difficult for Helenius but was stunned in the first. Robert claimed he hurt his right hand there and was a bit lethargic and one-paced for the rest of the fight. He did score with heavy punches at times but showed none of the explosive power he had in previous outings. On the scorcards he was ahead 3-0 twice and 2-1 after three and remained in a close lead throughout closing out with a strong final round for 115-113 and 115-113 win on two cards and 115-113 Chisora on the third card. Most felt the Brit had been robbed with some having it as wide as 118-110 for Chisora. I had it 116-113 Chisora. It was a tough night for Robert and all his weaknesses - slow footwork, pawing jab, lethargic appearance - were exposed and his all German defence was leaking as well as Chisora had the speed and power to punch throw the gloves. Helenius was able to keep it close though in the first half but faded in the later rounds. Chisora did take some punches but took them well.

Alexander Povetkin, 103,3, Rus KO 8 (2.58) Cedric Boswell, 103,8, US

Povetkin retained the WBA regular title with an impressive knockout over Cedric Boswell. Povetkin put on his best performance since beating Eddie Chambers years ago. Boswell had a good first round but was then worn down and under more and more pressure. He was under pressure in the sixth and seventh and was then hurt by a left hook early in the eighth and finally knocked out by a short right. It was scored 70-63 twice and 69-64 after seven.

10x2: Cecilia Braekhus, 66,4, Nor TKO 10 (0.57) Kuulei Kupihea, 66,2, US

Braekhus retained the WBC, WBA and WBO titles with an agressive, dominating performance and it was stopped in the tenth with Kupihea out on her feet.

Jarno Rosberg, 103,7, Fin W8-U Manuel Alberto "El Bombardero" Pucheta, 106,5, Arg

Not much action as Rosberg was overly careful against an also careful defensive minded slugger. 80-73 twice and 78-74.

8x3: Edmund Gerber, 105,1, Ger KO 1 (0.18) Marcus McGee, 109,5, US

A left hook did it and McGee, a very late sub for Michael Sprott, went down and out clutching his left eye but in reality there didn´t seem to be so much in it.

Edis Tatli, 61,7, Fin W10-U Pasquale Di Silvio, 61,7, Ita

98-93, 100-90 and 100-92. Interesting fight where Tatli worked well behind the jab and also switched to southpaw to control the action most of the way.

10x3: Jack Culcay, 71,0, Ger KO 1 (0.48) Giammario Grassellini, 70,6, Ita

Culcay came out fast and took out his opponent with a left hook to the body followed by two hooks of the head. Grassellini broke a rib and was in strong pain. Culcay still in a contractual dispute with Universum.

Jussi Koivula, 66,8, Fin W8-U Jose Del Rio, 66,8, Spa

Good fight where Koivula was too strong and for his tricky southpaw opponent. Scored 80-72 twice and 78-75.

Erik Skoglund, 79,0, Swe W4-U Amine Belali, 81,7, Mor/Fra

Skoglund won all the rounds but was too eager and walked into counters. Belali licensed in France but based in both there and in Morocco.

Dec 3, Allier, FRA:

8x2, w: Ann Sophie Da Costa, Fra TKO 5 Bettina Granasi,

Dec 3, Malville, FRA, Campbon BC

w: Steven Bloyer, Fra W 8 Barthelemy Lefevbre, Fra

jm: Sebastien Allais, Fra W 8 Benjamin Poitou, Fra

Dec 3, Grand Fort Philippe, FRA:

6x3, c: Kayembre Kalenga Youri, Fra KO 1 Martins Kukuls, Lat

Dec 3, Dessau, GER, Hugo Junkers Halle, Timo Hoffmann, gba

h: Timo Hoffmann, Ger W12-U Jonathan Pasi, Ger

gba European title, EPBA heavyweight title

Dec 3, Warzaw, POL. Bullit Knockout

lh: Dawid Kostecki, Pol KO 4 Byron Mitchell, US

Mitchell down in the first and second and out cold in the fourth. WBC Baltic and WBA I/C titles.

c: Krzyztof Glowacki, Pol TKO 2 Konstantin Semerdiev, Bul

lh: Pawel Glazewski, Pol W6-U Matt Barney, UK

58-56 and 58-57 twice.

6x3, c: Izuagbe Ugonoh, Pol TKO 1 Florians Strupits,

4x3, sm: Andrzej Soldra, Pol TKO 4 Egidjus Kakstys,

4x3, jl: Kamil Laszczyk, Pol KO 1 Istvan Paszti,

h: Krzysztof Zimnoch, Pol W4-U Gabor Farkas, Hun

w: Maurycy Gojko, Pol W4-U Rafal Piotrowski, Pol

Dec 3, Bad Ragaz, SWI:

Jürgen Doberstein, 74,8, Ger W 8 Dragomir Totev, 73,1, Hun

Sevdaui Sherifi, 89,7, Alb/Swi TKO 4 Mihaly Kratki, 89,0, Hun

Disarjot Gashi, 69,0, Kos/Swi W 6 Laszlo Szekeres, 68,3, Hun

Enes Zecirevic, 78,1, Bos/Swi TKO 6 Attila Szatmari, 78,2, Hun

Bruno Tavares, 76,8, Swi TKO 6 Attila Szatmari, 78,2, Hun

Dec 3, Lausanne, SWI:

David Roethlisberger, 76,8, Swi TKO 4 Deniss Kurakins, 79,0, Lat

Stephane Roethlisberger, 81,0, Swi TKO 4 Mantas Gramaliauskas, 78,0, Lat

Dec 3, Clichy, FRA:

l: Daouda Sow, Fra W6-U Bacho Kvaratskhelia, Geo

1/1 CN, lh: Quentin Chretien, Fra KO 1 Kevin Buval, Fra

1/1 CN, jw: Franck Petitjean, Fra W 4 Renald Garido, Fra

jw: Mihaita Mutu, Fra W6-U Jaba Shalutashvili, Geo

m: Yacine Darkrim, Fra W 4 Virgile Czudak, Fra

sm: Daríusz Solowiej, Fra W 4 Ousman Dominguez, Spa

Dec 3, Montlucon, FRA:

6x3, h: Mickael Vieira, Fra KO 4 Alban Gallonier, Fra

Dec 2, Kungälv, SWE, Mimers Hus, Kungälv BK (Jack Johnsen)

4x3: Rastgar Ismaeeli, 80,75, Swe, debut TKO 2 Andrej Pokumeiko, 80,25, Lat

Poukomeiko retired with a claimed injured hand. Prodebut for Ismaeeli, a 34 year from Trelleborg trained by Armand Krajnc.

6x2: Anna Donatella Hultin, 59,75, Swe W6-U Julija Cvetkova, 57,0, Lat

60-54 on all cards.

This was a pro-am event, sold out, 300+ customers.

Dec 2, Clermont Ferrand, FRA: AS Montferrandaise

sm: Chris Rebrasse, Fra W10-U Hugo Kasperski, Fra

Rebrasse regained the French supermiddle on scores of 96-95, 96-94 and 97-93 after staging a strong finish.

1/4 CLL, jw: Chaquib Fadli, Fra W 8 Denis Farias, Fra

1/4 NP, w: Fouad El Massoudi, Fra W 4 Edouard Bernadou, Fra

f: Anthony Settoul, Fra W 6 Elemir Rafael, Slo

6x3, w: Kamal Mohamed, Fra W dq 3 Konstantins Sakara, Lat

Dec 2, Courbevoie, FRA:

jw: Haguy Guy Albert, Fra D 4 Cedric Peynaud, Fra

jw: Ghennadi Torgovetchi, Fra W 6 Erunsal Sezer, Fra

jm: Lyes Bouzoumita, Fra W 6 Mickael Lacombe, Fra

lh: Antoine Boya, Fra W 4 Ngoma Tendoula, Fra

Dec 2, Massy, FRA:

c: Faisal Ibnel Arram, Fra TKO 9 Chris Dettinger, Fra

Arram retained the French cruiser title as Dettinger was retired by his corner out on his feet in the ninth. Arrami was ahead on scores of 77-76 and 77-75 twice after eight.

Dec 2, Noisy-le-Grand, FRA:

h: Carlos Takam, Fra W 8 Samir Kurtagic, Ser

Kurtagic late sub for Ghanian opponent (John Napari?)

jw: Ali Oubaali, Fra W dq 5 Almin Kovacevic, Cro

Kovacevic dq:d for various stuff.

Dec 2, San Martino Siccomario, ITA:

w: Giuseppe Langella, Ita W10-M Luca Frezza, Ita

Langella retained the national welter title on scores of 96-95, 96-94 and 95-95.

Dec 2, Mannheim, GER: SAP Arena, Sturm Box Promotion, bdb

Felix Sturm, 72,25, Ger D12-S Martin Murray, 72,0, UK

Sturm retained the WBA superchamp title on scores of 116-112, 114-114 and 113-115. Again, a matter on how you scor it but most seems to think Murray won

Dec 2, Silla, SPA:

8x3: Leif "El Vikingo" Larsen, 116,0, Nor/? TKO 2 Danny Williams, 129,0, Uk

Williams floored three times in the second in a fight that won´t take Larsen anywhere but that is a different story.

Dec 2, Cordoba, SPA: Palacio de Vistalegre de Cordoba, CUTMAN & Cordoba BC

Raul "Gordito" Buendia, 72,3, Spa W8-U Raul Ascencio, 71,6, Spa

80-72 on all cards.

Dec 2, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SPA:

jw: Juan Carlos "King Daluz" Lopez Sebastian, Spa KO 1 Oscar Rueda, Blr/Spa

By Per-Åke Persson