According to several media agencies, an agreement has been reached between K2 Promotions and Ulf Steinforth’s SES Boxing to arrange a fight between newly crowned WBO light middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs) and dangerous WBO #1 Czech opponent Lukas Konecny (47-3, 22 KOs).
The title affair will take place in February 2012 in Moscow, Grozny or Kiev and will be promoted by the Klitschko Brothers, who guide Zaurbek’s career. The winner should face former WBO king Sergey Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs) in his first title defense. Dzinziruk has been stripped of the title recently for failing to defend it in over a year and a half since his drubbing of Australian Daniel Dawson.
Baysangurov, once a highly regarded boxer-puncher from Achkhoy-Martan in Chechnya, started his professional career in 2004, being just 19 years of age. In his fifteenth fight Baysangurov delivered probably the finest performance of his career so far, schooling Marco Antonio Rubio to almost a shutout decision. He then won European crown and defeated it twice. In December 2008, Baysangurov lost an upset TKO 5 to Cornelius Bundrage in the IBF eliminator. Bundrage went on to become a new holder of the red belt. Zaurbek bounced back with seven wins in a row (six by knockout). In July this year Baysangurov blitzed barely live Mike Miranda with a couple of shots to become the WBO interim champion. He was elevated to the full status later, after Dzinziruk had been stripped off.
Lukas Konecny, 33-year old perennial contender and possibly the greatest Czech boxer of all time, was close to dethroning Dzinziruk in March 2008 but was held to a very controversial split decision loss. He is 11-0, with 4 KOs, after that with two successful defenses of his European regalia.
By Dmitry Mikhalchuk and Alexey Sukachev
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=45539