MTK Global is delighted to announce the signing of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s world-ranked junior heavyweight star Edin Puhalo.

Unbeaten Puhalo (19-0, 18 KOs) is known for his incredible power, with 18 of his 19 wins coming by knockout, while he is also currently ranked #4 in the world by the WBO.

He is set to take on Dilan Prasovic in a WBO cruiserweight title eliminator in Belgrade on October 23, with a win in that fight setting him up for a showdown against the winner of the battle between Lawrence Okolie and Krzysztof Glowacki for the vacant WBO title.

Puhalo is highly-rated throughout the world of boxing, and the 32-year-old is pleased to be teaming up with MTK Global.

He said: “I am happy that I’ve become part of the large and prestigious MTK Global family and I look forward to our co-operation. This is a big milestone for me and I hope we will be a great team. I am very proud to be on the same team with Tyson Fury and other boxers and this will be a great motivation in my career.

“I have come a long way and I am satisfied with my career, but I am also convinced that I can be a world champion. I have a big fight coming up, and I have enriched my team with top trainers for fitness and physical preparation. They have helped me a lot to be even better and to push my limits and possibilities. I look forward to the fight and I want to prove myself once again.

“After this eliminator, the next fight is for the world title and I sincerely hope it will be Lawrence Okolie because he would suit me better in the fight itself. The fight between Glowacki and Okolie will be quite uncertain and difficult and I think they have an equal chance of winning.”

MTK Global Promoter Lee Eaton said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Edin Puhalo to the team. He’s one of the most exciting fighters in the cruiserweight division and every fight he’s involved in is a must-see affair for all boxing fans.

“Up next for him is a fight against Dilan Prasovic in a world title eliminator later this month, and with a victory there he can secure a WBO title shot against the winner of Okolie and Glowacki, so we’re all excited to see what he is capable of.”

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David Oliver Joyce has fired out a warning to the rest of the featherweight division after stopping Stephen Tiffney in the seventh round of their clash in Dubai.

Joyce (10-0-KO8) earned the first title of his professional career by winning the WBO European belt during a historic night at the sold out Emirates Golf Club, live on ESPN+ and iFL TV, and the unbeaten star is now ready to target big things.

Joyce said: “A lot of people see where my pedigree is, and I know I can mix it with the best. To all of the featherweights out there in England and Ireland, I’m in town now.

“I boxed Oscar Valdez as an amateur in 2009, and I’ve mixed it with Carl Frampton too. They all know I can compete with the top level boxers at featherweight.

“It was an unbelievable performance, so thank you to MTK Global and all of the Dubai people who came out to see it. I was confident going into the fight because I was on weight, and everything was perfect.

“For the past 14 weeks I’ve lived like a professional. For the first time ever I’ve had all of the right meals and the right amount of training and sleep, so I have to credit my nutritionist for getting me in this fantastic shape.”

The magical night in Dubai also featured wins for the likes of Aliu Lasisi, Sultan Zaurbek, Shakhobidin Zoirov, Mateo Tapia, Majid Al-Naqbi, Zuhayr Al-Qahtani and many more on a fantastic night of action.

David Oliver Joyce became the new WBO European featherweight champion after defeating Stephen Tiffney on a historic night in Dubai.

A stunning view of the Dubai skyline was the backdrop for the iconic sold out event live on ESPN+ and iFL TV, with HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also in attendance.

Joyce (10-0-KO8) overcame a cut early in the fight to stop Tiffney in the seventh round of their fight, picking up his first title as a professional in the process.

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On July 13th, Asventure Promotion in association with the City of Creteil (Val de Marne) will stage a fight involving the European WBO junior middleweight championship at the “Palais des Sports” of Creteil, a city near Paris. The card will be broadcast on the French channel Direct 8 at 10:50pm.

Michel Soro (18-1, 11KO) is coming back from a terrific fight that he had against Zaurbek Baysangurov. Eventhough he knocked the champion down during the second round, he did not do enough to steal the show in Ukraine. This night, he showed heart and skills and the world discovered a talented prospect, his lack of experience at the top level costs him the victory. At only 24, he is definitely ready to bounce back.

Therefore, he will defend his European WBO belt against Russian Magomed Abdurakhmakov (17-5, 9 KO) this Friday. He wants to show the French audience that he can be the next champion.

The rest of the undercard will spotlight French Talent:

Julien Marie Sainte (32-2, 24KO), a really impressive middleweight boxer. The former French champion and currently ranked 5# WBA, waiting for a title opportunity.

Sofiane Takoucht (23-2, 10KO) is a former featherweight European champion and currently ranked 2# EBU.

Sofiane Cherfioui (20-0, 14KO), a tough middleweight prospect from Algeria who is ready to take it to the next level.

Ahmed el Mousaoui (14-1, 3KO), at only 22, he is on his way up.

 

By Kamel Messani

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=54839

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WBO Europe Super middlerweight champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 27KOs) has his eyes fixated on the WBO title held by Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23KOs). Stieglitz is still booked to face former champion Mikkel Kessler in April, but rumors continue to swirl that Abraham may beat the Danish star in the championship race.

“I hope the fight with Stieglitz will take place. Prior to this, however, I will need to have one more fight. If all everything well, I hope that our promoters will enter into negotiations. This fight would be interesting for the boxing fans, and for me personally,” Abraham said.

Chris Meyer, general manager of Sauerland Event, who promote Abraham, is also interested in matching King Arthur against Stieglitz. However, he states that Kessler is still on course to face Stieglitz in April.

“To carry out a fight between Abraham and Stieglitz, we would need a huge arena. However, in mid-April Robert will make a title defense against Mikkel Kessler, and only after that can we say something concrete about a fight between Abraham and Stieglitz,” Meyer said.

Alexander Pavlov covers boxing for sportbox.ru.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48838

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Former middleweight world champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 26 KOs) stopped Pablo Farias (19-2, 11 KOs) in the fifth round to capture the WBO’s European super middleweight title at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany. In the fifth round, Abraham dropped Farias three times before the referee waved it off.

WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23 KOs) had a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Henry Weber (15-1-1, 3 KOs). The scores were 116-112, 118-110 and 119-109. Stieglitz will now face former champion Mikkel Kessler on April 14 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48547

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Former world middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 27KOs) returned last Saturday in Germany and stopped Argentine boxer Pablo Farias in five rounds. Abraham, who planned on going back to middleweight, will remain in the super middleweight division.

Abraham won the WBO’s European super middleweight title last Saturday and wants to fight the winner of April’s fight between WBO champion Robert Stieglitz and Mikkel Kessler. There rumors that Kessler may opt to chase a rematch with WBC/WBA champion Andre Ward.

A return date of March 31 is possible, says Abraham.

“I would like to do better, but this requires more work and further training. The mistakes that I made [against Farias], we are going to analyze and continue training so they are not repeated.

“It is quite possible [that I can face Stieglitz]. I think that our promoter [Sauerland Event] would organize this fight. Stiglitz also wants this fight, and so do I, of course. Such a fight would be a great event for Germany. So I hope that he could it could take place at the end of the year.[But] I would like to fight with the champ, so this would have to be in case he wins [against Kessler].

If Kessler wins, Abraham says a fight with his stablemate “is quite possible.”

 

By Yuri Tarantino, allboxing.ru

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48664

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In his first bout following his disastrous Super Six tournament performance, former world champion Arthur Abraham (33-3, 26 KOs) scored a fifth round KO over Pablo Oscar Natalio Farias (19-2, 11 KOs) in a clash for the WBO European super middleweight title on Saturday night at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany. After a slow four rounds, Abraham opened up in the fifth and dropped Farias three times to end it.

WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (41-2, 23 KOs) scored a one-sided twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten #14 Henry Weber (15-1-1, 3 KOs). Stieglitz outclassed Weber as he landed almost at will, but Weber was game and showed a good chin as he took a beating for the full distance. Scores were 116-112, 118-110, 119-109. Fightnews.com had it 120-108. Next up for Stieglitz is expected to be former WBC/WBA champion Mikkel Kessler on April 14 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Unbeaten heavyweight Kubrat Pulev (15-0, 7 KOs) scored a nine round TKO over Michael Sprott (36-18, 17 KOs), who didn’t come out for round ten in a bout for the IBF International heavyweight title.

WBF/WBO/WIBF female super featherweight champion Ramona Kühne (19-1, 6 KOs) scored an eighth round KO over Renata Dömsödi (7-2, 3 KOs). Kühne dropped Dömsödi twice in the eighth and it was waved off at 1:24.

 

By Karl Freitag

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/results-from-germany-5-106033

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Maritim Hotel, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany – In a fierce battle, up-and-coming WBO #6 light heavyweight Robin Krasniqi improved to 37-2, with 13 KOs, after a spirited twelfth-round TKO over dуtermined Frenchman Hakim Zoulikha (16-3, 8 KOs).

This fight was very much different than the previous encounter thanks to the will and determination of the challenger. Zoulikha, 25, and the smaller of the two, tried to find his luck on the inside. The Frenchman lacked quality punching power but was very active in winging wild hooks and swings to scare the lanky Albanian. Krasniqi, his real name being Haxhi, used some elements of rope-a-dope tactics alongside constant lateral movement and uppercuts on the inside. The first couple of rounds was rather even but in the third and in the fourth stanzas Krasniqi reached some success with his jabs and uppercuts to trouble Zoulikha a bit.

Rounds five and six turned into a crowd-pleasing war with both fighters swinging wildly in order to deliver one meaningful punch. It soon became obvious that the close quarters favored the French brawler over the German boxer, both fighters landing bombs in a sensational sixth round. Sensing the fight was going his opponent’s way, Krasniqi found something in him to turn back the tide. He increased the distance between him and Zoulikha in the second half of the fight. He was also fresher than the Frenchman and he got better and better with each fought round.

As the bout progressed into the final quarter Krasniqi’s advantage became clearly visible. However, he was unable to rock durable Zulikha up until the middle of the twelfth and final stanza. It was when his combinations had finally penetrated Zoulikha’s guard and started to wobble him. After a lengthy barrage of unanswered punches referee Lahcen Oumghar of Netherlands halted the action with just five seconds remaining. Krasniqi retained his WBO European title in a surprisingly thrilling encounter.

 

By Alexey Sukachev

Photos: Eroll Popova

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=48244

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In an earlier report on BoxingScene.com, IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale revealed that his management team is currently negotiating a possible unification with WBO king Dmitry Pirog for a date in late December. In the report, Geale (26-1, 15 KOs) said he was “90% certain” that a deal to fight Pirog (19-0, 15 KOs) would get finalized, with a Las Vegas venue being considered.

Pirog has now personally confirmed the serious nature of the ongoing negotiations.

“Immediately after the victory over [Danny] Jacobs when I won the world title in 2010, I asked my promoters to organize a unification fight. But, none of the other boxers wanted to fight. My promoters made proposals to various middleweight champions, but none of them responded. The only boxer willing to talk, is IBF middleweight champion Daniel Geale of Australia. Like myself, Geale is not an American. And to get on American TV, he needs a big fight. That is why our discussions are the most realistic. It is possible that we’ll reach an agreement with him. At the moment, my promoters Kyril Pchelnikov and Artie Pelullo are negotiating with Geale’s side,” Pirog said.

By Ruslan Chikov
http://www.boxingscene.com/pirog-confirms-negotiations-geale-unification-bout–45171

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WBO #5 cruiserweight Nuri “Albanian Tyson” Seferi (30-6, 18 KOs) will defend his WBO Europe title against unbeaten Belgian Tony Ingelrest (10-0, 4KOs) on September 24 in Gostivar, Macedonia. Seferi trained hard for his second title defense and assures that the title remains in Albania. The most important man in Seferi’s camp is trainer Oktay Urkal. They are aiming for a WBO title shot in 2012.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/serferi-ingelrest-on-sept-24-95502

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