(L-R) – Niek Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Februar 21, 2018) – World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “svijet” Kovač (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) ove subote in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Njemačka
The Smith vs. Holzken card, sa početkom u 2 poslije podne. I, will air live in Canada, isključivo na Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Njemačke, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Nažalost, 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) i Međunarodna bokserska organizacija (IBO) Super Svjetskog prvaka u srednjoj “Ser” George Groves (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, Jun 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel stekao ekskluzivna prava u Kanadi na emitovanje World Boxing Super Series iz MP & Silva, vodeća međunarodna medijska kompanija koja pruža prava medija, digitalni, tehnologije i sponzorstva usluge.
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.
U WBSS četvrtfinalu, 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 je rekao. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Subota 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 u Subotu 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 više 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 Subota. 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” kartica, presented by Sauerland Event, će emitirati isključivo u Kanadi na Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), Rusije, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), Hrvatske, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) u osam rundi borbe; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), Njemačke, meets Cameroon native Bernard Donfack (23-17-3, 11 KOs) in an eight round super middleweight match; 19-year-old German super middleweight Leon Bauer (12-0-1, 8 KOs) kvadrata akciju Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), Italije, 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 KOs) may also be aired.
Sve borbe i borci su podložne promjenama.
World Boxing Super Series POLUFINALE RASPORED
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Siječanj 27, riga Arena, riga, Letonija – WBO / WBC ujedinjenja
Oleksandr “Mačka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukrajina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KOs), Letonija
(Usyk zadržao svoju WBO titulu i osvojio WBC prvaka)
Februar 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, sochi, Rusija – IBF / WBA ujedinjenja
Murat “Gvožđe” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Rusija
WTKO12
Yunier “KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KOs), Kuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER srednjeteškaše
Februar 17, Mančester, Arena, Mančester, UK – WBA / IBO ujedinjenja
“Svetac” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Kris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), IBO svjetski prvak, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Februar 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Njemačka
Callum “svijet” Kovač (23-0, 17 KOs), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – Prsten #3
(WBC Diamond Super prvak u srednjoj kategoriji)
vs.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Holandija
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Maj 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Mačka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukrajina – Prsten #1
vs.
Murat “Gvožđe” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusija – Prsten #2
Jun 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – WBA / IBO ujedinjenja
“Svetac” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, WBA/IBO Champion – Prsten #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
