The man behind Fighter Elvis Promotion in Latvia is now other than former EU lightheavy champ Elvis Mihailenko, who went 17-1-1 as a pro 2000 through 2005. Mihailenko beat the likes of Alejandro Lakatos, Giovanni Alvarez and Kai Kurzawa before illness and promotional difficulties lead to an early retirement. Today Elvis promotes heavyweight Mairis Briedis, who last weekend stopped Joszef Nagy, and is scheduled to fight on the Bigger is Better Tournament on Cyprus July 6.
If all goes well for Swedish welter Karlo Tabaghua in Halle an der Saale, Germany, this weekend against German trialhorse Marcen Gierke a big fight awaits in Antwerp, Belgium, September 21. Opponent will then be Said Ouali with the IBF I/C title at stake. It´s a bit of a gamble for Team Tabaghua as Karlo also is mandatory challenger for the EU title. The show at the Lotto Arena is promoted by the BFN Group, who previously have concentrated on martial arts.
Swedish supermiddle Naim Terbunja is still under contract with Al Haymon in the US but this far have been unable to get a work visa. Terbunja, of Albanian descent and nicknamed the Albanian Warrior, turned pro in April in Sweden and will July 26 fight Croatian Marijan Markovic in Pristina, Kosovo. Naim also have a spot secured on Armand Boxing Promotion´s show in Ystad, Sweden, September 1.
Current WBO middle champ Dmitry Pirog will be allowed to enter the ring August 25 against Gennady Golovkin as champ but once into the ring interim champ Hassan N´Dam will be declared champion. This is the solution from the WBO to solve the problem of having two champs that for various reasons won´t fight each other.
By Per-Åke Persson
