Ola Afolabi-Valery Brudov Clash For WBO’s Interim Belt

Former WBA interim-cruiserweight champion Valery Brudov (39-3, 28 KOs) will soon get another opportunity to capture a meaningful belt. Don King-promoted Brudov, 35, a native of Pskov, is set to fight hard-hitting and elusive (at the same time) Nigerian Ola Afolabi (18-2-3, 8 KOs) for the interim WBO title at 200-pounds. The fight is booked take place at ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, as a part of the Wladimir Klitschko vs. Jean-Marc Mormeck undercard. Previously mentioned contenders BJ Flores and Latif Kayode have reportedly rejected a bout with Afolabi for various reasons.

Brudov is ranked #8 by the WBO and #14 by the WBA. His first attempt at a world title was nullified by the great Virgill Hill, who one-sidedly outpointed Brudov in January 2006. The Russian came back in December of the same year and stopped Panamanian Luis Andres Pineda to get the WBA interim belt. He lost it half a year later by dropping a close split decision to Germany-based Turk Firat Arslan. In his second world title opportunity, Brudov was stopped late by another Panamanian, Guillermo Jones; Brudov lost the fight via TKO 11 due to a bad cut.

WBO #1 Ola Afolabi (also WBA #4 and WBC/IBF #7), 31, is also a former world champion. He came back to the ring in 2008 after a lengthy hiatus to stop highly touted prospect Eric Fields. A year later, Afolabi was trailing on judges’ scorecards up until the ninth-round of his fight with former WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli, before he put the Welshman down for the count with a terrifying left hook, getting the WBO interim belt. He lost it several months later with a close decision to Marco Huck in a WBO unification. This time, K2-promoted Nigerian will get a crack at interim title.

By Alexey Sukachev

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50071

La Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) anuncia los oficiales que estarán trabajando en los combates de título mundial entre el campeón peso completo Wladimir Klitschko ante Jean Marc Mormeck y de Ola Afolabi frente a Valery Brudov, que se efectuarán este sábado, 3 de marzo, en el ESPRIT Arena, Dusseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Alemania en una presentación de K2 Promotions.

El presidente de la OMB, Francisco “Paco” Valcárcel, que estará en Alemania en este cartel, informó que para la pelea donde el ucraniano Klitschko (56-3, 49 KOs) defenderá por séptima ocasión su título pesado de la OMB ante el clasificado número 10, el francés Mormeck (36-4, 22 KOs), el árbitro será el puertorriqueño Luis Pabón.

Los jueces que trabajarán el pleito Klitschko-Mormeck serán el estadounidense Clark Sammartino, el españo Manuel Maritxalar y el belga Phillipe Verbeke. El supervisor de la OMB para el encuentro será el propio presidente de la entidad, Valcárcel.

Mientras, para el encuentro entre el británico Afolabi (18-2-3, 8 KOs) y el ruso Valery Brudov (39-3, 28 KOs), por el título interino del peso crucero de la OMB, el árbitro será Genaro “Gino” Rodríguez.

Los jueces para esta reyerta son Clark Sammartino, Manuel Maritxalar y Luis Pabón. El supervisor de la OMB para esta pelea entre Afolabi y Brudov será el surafricano Andrew Smale.

Afolabi es actualmente el primer clasificado de la OMB en los cruceros, mientras que Brudov se encuentra en la octava posición.

Berlin – Heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko is targetting his 50th career knockout when he takes on outsider Jean-Marc Mormeck in Duesseldorf on Saturday.

Ukrainian Klitschko, whose older brother Vitali beat Briton Dereck Chisora on points earlier this month to retain his WBC crown, holds the WBO, IBF, and WBA versions of the title.

“I am ready for this challenge,” Wladimir told a news conference in Duesseldorf on Monday. “I still have the hunger and I do not take this fight lightly.

“When you see how he talks, looks and moves then that shows he has the will and determination to become the first world heavyweight champion from France.”

The 35-year-old warned the Frenchman, nicknamed “Mini Tyson” because of his build, would be no pushover even though he was 17 centimetres shorter at 1.81 metres than the Ukrainian.

“It is extremely difficult to box against a man who is a lot shorter,” said Wladimir. “It does not make my job easier.”

Vladimir, standing 1.98 metres tall, has notched 49 knockouts in his 59 professional fights, and has lost three.

The fight had to be rescheduled from its original Dec 10 2011 date after Vladimir pulled out to undergo surgery to remove a kidney stone.

Mormeck, the 38-year-old former cruiserweight world champion, said he did not fear the Ukrainian, who will have a much wider reach due to his height.

“I have an iron will and am tough. I fear no one and that is my mental strength,” he said. “Does he have that as well?”

Compared to brother Vitali’s controversial bout against Chisora, which featured Chisora slapping the WBC champion during the weigh-in and exchanging punches with British boxer David Haye in a post-fight press conference, preparations for this bout have so far been peaceful.

“But it is still Monday and a Vitali’s press conference also was peaceful. Let’s see what happens at the weigh-in,” Wladimir said.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50050

WBO/IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (L) goes face to face with former cruiserweight king Jean-Marc Mormeck at a press conference at the InterContinental hotel in Duesseldorf, western Germany. Klitschko of Ukraine will defend his titles against Mormeck of France on March 3rd in Duesseldorf. EPIX will televise in the United States.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50046

K2 Promotions of Klitschko brothers in associations with SES-Boxing of Ulf Steinforth begin the new season of boxing in Ukraine! WBO junior middleweight champion Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs) will defend his title in a match with Lukas Konecny (47-3, 22 KOs) on the 10th of March 10 in the Terminal Ice Palace, Brovary. The boxing event will be presented by Khortytsa TM and Inter Media Group.

The fight promises to be an intriguing encounter, as the ring will be shared by two strongest representatives of the junior middleweight division. Baysangurov and Konecny have not lost since 2008.

26-years old Chechen Baysangurov of K2 Promotions debuted in professional ranks in 2004 and very soon gained the reputation of one of the hottest prospects in the division. The real triumph for Baysangurov became his victory over Mexican puncher Marco Antonio Rubio in 2006 in Kyiv. In 2007 Zaurbek won the European title and defended it two times. But in December 2008 young Chechen stumbled one step from world championship fight when lost by technical knockout to Cornelius Bundrage of United States. Shortly after defeat Zaur came back to the ring and scored seven consecutive victories, six of them by knockout, defeating such strong opponents as Eromosele Albert and Richard Gutierrez. In summer 2011 in Odessa, Ukraine, Baysangurov won interim WBO junior middleweight title with a quick victory in the first round over Brazilian Mike Miranda.

Last fall WBO junior middleweight champion at the time Sergiy Dzinziruk was stripped of the title, as he has not fight in his division since May 2010 and due to the injury was forced to withdraw from the mandatory defense against Lukas Konecny. According to the decision of WBO Baysangurov was given the status of world champion in this weight, and was obligated to meet Lukas Konecny in his next fight.

For the past six years 33-years old Konecny belongs to the elite of the junior middleweights and because of his achievements is the best fighter in the Czech boxing history regardless of weight categories. In 2008 Konecny fought for WBO world title against Sergiy Dzinziruk and lost by controversial majority decision. Since then, the Czech scored eleven wins in eleven battles, including winning the European belt and two successful defenses of this title.

In the undercard boxing fans will be able to see another title fight when WBO and WBF middleweight champion Christine Hammer (11-0, 7 KOs) will defend her belts against Quinn Shabalaly (4-1-1, 1 KO) of South Africa.

К2 Promotions kicks off the new boxing year with the new partner! Since February 2012 Khortytsa TM – the absolute quality is the official partner of the boxing events promoted by Klitschko brothers’ promotional company in Ukraine.

Bosco Ukraine is a sports partner of the show!

Ukrainian channel Inter will televise, starting at 11:05 PM.

It’s official. According to K2 Promotions, WBO light middleweight beltholder Zaurbek Baysangurov (26-1, 20 KOs) will put his title at risk on March 10 at Terminal Entertainment Center in Brovary, Ukraine, against dangerous Czech opponent and WBO obligatory challenger Lukas Konecny (47-3, 22 KOs) in a real toss-up encounter. Both parties have reportedly signed the documents.

Both fighters are probably the best European representatives in this weight class and haven’t lost a fight since 2008, when Konecny (11 wins since that) dropped a close decision to then-champion Sergey Dzinziruk, and Kiev-based Russian Baysangurov (7 victories from the moment) was sensationally kayoed by veteran puncher Cornelius Bundrage. An official presser to announce the whole event will take place on February 22 in Kiev. K2 will promote the show.

By Dmitry Mikhalchuk and Alexey Sukachev

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49630

WBO #4 cruiserweight B.J. Flores (27-1-1, 17 KO’s) says he has turned down an offer by K2 Promotions to face #1 ranked Ola Afolabi (18-2-3, 8 KOs) on March 3rd for the WBO interim world title in Germany on the Wladimir Klitschko-Jean Marc Mormeck heavyweight title card.

“I want this fight,” Flores said, “I have been very active lately and ready for this type of challenge. But on twenty-six days notice? And having to go to Germany? This is a very serious fight for a very serious title and I demand my full 45 days of preparation, especially considering I just fought last Saturday. It’s only fair. I have worked very hard for this opportunity and combine that with a very very low $25,000 offer, it doesn’t seem like they really want this fight.”

He continued, “This is a great chance for the cruiserweight division to put on a great fight and they want to stick it on an undercard where no one will see it, for very low money with only 26 days’ notice and I would have to travel to Germany. I have just had three successful shows in Springfield, Missouri and with the cash streams we can generate, we could do the fight there and bring in a network TV station and both of us can not only make more money but it could re-energize the cruiserweight division in the States. This fight deserves to be on TV and I deserve the regulated 45 day preparation time as I am the highest rated contender. Ola, I will pay you more money than you have offered me and we can definitely get American TV to cover this event. I demand the proper amount of time and I want everyone in America to see this fight as it is good for the division. Fighting on the undercard in Germany is with 25 days notice is not the right way to win a world title Have your promoter get in touch with Don King and we can set this up easy. I want this fight!”

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/afolabi-flores-a-no-go-for-march-3-107637

Wladimir Klitschko’s world heavyweight title showdown with Jean-Marc Mormeck has been rescheduled for March 3 in Dusseldorf.

Klitschko had been due to put WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line against the Frenchman on Saturday – only for the Ukrainian to pull out following an operation to have a kidney stone removed.

However Klitschko, who toppled David Haye for the WBA strap in his last outing, has now confirmed the mandatory defence will go ahead at the ESPRIT Arena.

Klitschko said in a statement: “I know that I am the favourite in all my fights but I also know that each opponent is motivated to be in the best shape ever when he fights me.

“Mormeck is one of the most experienced fighters I have ever faced. He has had many world title fights, has a very good technique, can take a lot of punches and is very intelligent inside the ring.

“To underestimate him would be a fatal mistake. I am very happy to return to the ESPRIT Arena where I fought against Eddie Chambers. The spectators and the atmosphere for that fight were great and I am sure it will be again this time.”

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/7361907/Klitschko-confirms-new-date

Ola Afolabi, WBO Intercontinental Cruiserweight Champion, is scheduled to make his second title defense as the co-feature of the huge Vitali Klitschko vs Tomasz Adamek show September 10 in Wroclaw Poland.

Afolabi is 17-2 and rated #2 in the WBO, #3 WBA, #7 WBC and #7 in the IBF. He was scheduled to fight undefeated Polish cruiserweight star Pawel Kolodziej, 28-0. This was a great matchup of two top cruiserweights that are rated in the top ten of every sanctioning body.

“Everybody was excited about this fight,” stated Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions, promotional company of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. “We signed Ola one year ago and he is now a completely different fighter since he has started working with Vitali’s trainer, Fritz Sdunek. “K2 has featured Ola on their last 3 shows and he has responded with great results. Afolabi was born in London and his fan base in the UK is very strong from impressive KO wins over two fellow Brits, Enzo Maccarinelli and Terry Dunstan. Afolabi’s last fight was on July 2 with a first round KO over Terry Dunstan, the UK Cruiserweight Champion. This was on the same show where Wladimir Klitschko added the WBA championship to his collection of titles when he dominated David Haye over every round.

Andrew Wasilewski of 12 Round Knockout Promotions, Promoter of Kolodziej, was very dejected when he found out the news. “We regret very much that Pawel will not be able to fight Ola Afolabi September 10 in Wroclaw. This will be the biggest boxing event in Polish history and Pawel wanted to be a part of it. He was involved in a car accident, he is ok, but the doctor said that he could not train properly for the fight because of the injuries that he suffered.” Wasilewski’s company also promotes WBC Cruiserweight champion, Krzysztof Wlodarczyk.

K2 is currently looking for a replacement opponent and offered the fight to Mateusz Masternak, 23-0, who is also an undefeated Polish cruiserweight and is scheduled to fight on the same show. “I thought this was the perfect solution,” said Loeffler, “but Masternak’s people turned down the fight because of short notice, even though he has been training to fight on the same show. Ola is like Vitali and at a point in his career where he will fight anyone, even accepting two undefeated Polish fighters in their home country.”

The historic event will be held in the brand new 42,000 seat soccer stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. The show will be broadcast in over 110 countries and on pay per view in Poland starting at 9pm. The Klitschko vs Adamek main event will be shown live on HBO in the US at 5pm EST and also live in Germany on RTL at 11pm.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=29053&more=1