(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Februarie 21, 2018) – World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “wêreld” Smith (23-0, 17 Uitklophoue) takes on late replacement Nieky “Die Natuurlike” Holzken (13-0, 10 Uitklophoue) Saterdag in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Duitsland
The Smith vs. Holzken card, begin by 2 namiddag. EN, will air live in Canada, uitsluitlik op Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Duitsland, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Ongelukkig, a fight in this state is out of the questions. It is not possible for me to go into the ring like this and I would like to apologize to my fans. I was well prepared and looking forward to fighting Callum.”
The Smith-Holzken winner will advance to the WBSS super middleweight championship final against World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) Super Middelgewig wêreldkampioen “Sir” George Groves (28-3, Uitklophoue), of the United Kingdom, Junie 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali-trofee.
Super Channel het die eksklusiewe regte in Kanada om die World Boxing Super Series van LP uitgesaai & Silva, 'n vooraanstaande internasionale media maatskappy wat media regte bied, digitale, tegnologie en borgskap dienste.
Smith was the least tested WBSS semifinalist in terms of having faced quality opponents, as well as the youngest at 27. The undefeated Brit is one of four fighting Smith brothers.
In die WBSS kwarteindronde, Smith took a 12-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten Erik Skoglund to capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond super middleweight title.
“I gave an interview last week and said it was great there have been no drop-outs,” Smith het gesê. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Saterdag and will fight whoever the World Boxing Super series puts in front of me.”
The 34-year-old Holzken was preparing to fight Dmitri Chudinov in Saterdag se WBSS Super Middleweight Substitute Fight. He has had only four scheduled 10-round matches during his five-year professional career, the most notable being a win by 10-round unanimous decision in 2016 oor Farouk Daku (20-9-1) for the vacant BeNeLux super middleweight title.
Holzken is determined to make the most of this opportunity by upsetting Smith, despite his obvious leap in class. “I’ve been waiting for this chance to come,” Holzken commented. “I signed up as a substitute fighter, so I’m in great shape and prepared for Saterdag. I’ve watched Callum fight many times. I study everyone in my weight class. He’s a good, solid fighter. We’re both big body punchers. It will make for an excellent fight. Callum, you better be ready, because I am, and I’m coming to beat you!”
Five exciting fights on the “Smith-Holzken” kaart, presented by Sauerland Event, sal uitsluitlik lug in Kanada op Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 Uitklophoue), van Rusland, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Uitklophoue), Kroasië, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Uitklophoue) in 'n agt-ronde bout; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 Uitklophoue), Duitsland, meets Cameroon native Bernard Donfack (23-17-3, 11 Uitklophoue) in an eight round super middleweight match; 19-year-old German super middleweight Leon Bauer (12-0-1, 8 Uitklophoue) vierkante af met Marco Miano (6-6, 2 Uitklophoue), Italië, in a six-round fight to open the Super Channel broadcast. A six-round “swing bout” between German super middleweight Toni Kraft(12-0-1, 4 Kos) and Hungarian Jozsef Racz (7-20-1, 2 Uitklophoue) may also be aired.
Alle gevegte en vegters is onderhewig aan verandering.
World Boxing Super Series halfeindronde BYLAE
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Januarie 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letland – WBO / WBC Unification
Oleksandr “die Kat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Uitklophoue), Oekraïne
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 Uitklophoue), Letland
(Usyk behou sy WBO-titel gewen en die WBC-kampioenskap)
Februarie 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Rusland – IBF / WBA Unification
Murat “Yster” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Uitklophoue), Rusland
WTKO12
Yunier “Die KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Uitklophoue), Kuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER middleweights
Februarie 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, Verenigde Koninkryk – WBA / IBO Unification
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Uitklophoue), Verenigde Koninkryk
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “volgende Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 Uitklophoue), IBO wêreldkampioen, Verenigde Koninkryk
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Februarie 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Neurenberg, Duitsland
Callum “wêreld” Smith (23-0, 17 Uitklophoue), Verenigde Koninkryk – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middelgewig Kampioen)
vs.
Nieky “Die Natuurlike” Holzken (13-0, 10 Uitklophoue), Nederland
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Mei 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “die Kat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Uitklophoue), WBO/WBC Champion, Oekraïne – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Yster” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Uitklophoue), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusland – Ring #2
Junie 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Verenigde Koninkryk – WBA / IBO Unification
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Uitklophoue), Verenigde Koninkryk, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
