Euro News

By Per-Ake Persson

Finnish veteran Juho Haapoja (26-7-2) will again take on Hungarian puncher Tamas Lodi (18-7-2). The rematch tops a Loud´n Live promotion in Seinajoki September 17. Lodi won their first fight on third round knockout.

Haapoja, who began his career as a heavyweight, then dropped down to cruiser and even lightheavy but is now back at cruiser, will train in London under CJ Hussein. Juho have a long and tough career behind with and this may be his farewell fight.

Also on the bill in Seinajoki is another rematch and this between middleweights Ilias Achergui (6-2-1) from Belgium and Henri Kekalainen (8-3-0). Achergui won the first fight on a close, controversial decision.

British welter prospect Kian Thomas (5-0) is also on the bill.

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Heavyweight Aleksander Dimitrenko (38-2) is mandatory challenger for the EU title currently held by Agit Kabayel (15-0). Dimitrenko was last mentioned as opponent for Shannon Briggs but denied having ever been contacted for the fight.

Dimitrenko held the EBU title 2010-12 and then lost to Kubrat Pulev in what also was a IBF eliminator. He´s won six straight since then but over rather soft opponents.

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Petko's Box Promotion stage a 12-fight show at the Ballhaus Forum in Munich on Friday (July 15). Superlightweight Howik Bebraham (3-0) defends the International German title against Robert Tatlik (18-0) in the headliner. The Kraft brothers, James and Toni, are both featured on the undercard. Toni take on Hungarian Attila Palko (22-23) while James is in against Mihai Macovei (7-24) with both fights made at lightheavy.

Cruiserweight Enad Licina (30-4) is also on the bill and face Ata Dogan (14-30-1).

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There is still no agreement for EBU lightheavy champ Medhi Amar's mandatory defence against former WBO supermiddle king Robert Stieglitz. The EBU are now calling for purse bids and have set August 5 at noon as deadline.

Per-Åke Persson