(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canadà (Febrer 21, 2018) – Consell Mundial de Boxa (CMB) Diamond champion Callum “món” Herrero (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “El Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) aquest dissabte in the last Súper Sèrie Mundial de Boxa (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Alemanya
The Smith vs. Holzken card, a partir de 2 p.m. I, will air live in Canada, exclusivament en Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, d'Alemanya, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Desafortunadament, 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 (AMB) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) Campió mundial de pes mitjà súper “Senyor” George Groves (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, Juny 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel va adquirir els drets exclusius al Canadà per transmetre el Súper Sèrie Mundial de Boxa de MP & Silva, una empresa líder de mitjans de comunicació internacionals que proporciona drets dels mitjans, digital, serveis tecnològics i de patrocini.
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.
En els quarts de WBSS, Smith took a 12-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten Erik Skoglund to capture the World Boxing Council (CMB) Diamond super middleweight title.
“I gave an interview last week and said it was great there have been no drop-outs,” Smith va dir. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Dissabte 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 a Dissabte de 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 sobre 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 Dissabte. 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” targeta, presented by Sauerland Event, sortirà a l'aire exclusivament al Canadà el Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), de Rússia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), de Croàcia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) en una baralla de vuit assalts; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), d'Alemanya, 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) es quadra amb Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), d'Itàlia, 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.
Totes les baralles i els lluitadors estan subjectes a canvi.
HORARI món de la boxa Super Series SEMIFINALS
creuers
Gener 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letònia – OMB / CMB Unificació
Oleksandr “El gat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ucraïna
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis cérvols (23-1, 18 KOs), Letònia
(Usyk va retenir el seu títol de l'OMB i va guanyar el campionat del CMB)
Febrer 3, Bolshoy cúpula de gel, Sochi, Rússia – FIB / AMB Unificació
Murat “Planxa” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Rússia
WTKO12
Yunier “El doctor KO” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KOs), Cuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
Súper mitjans
Febrer 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, Regne Unit – AMB / OIB Unificació
“Sant” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Regne Unit
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), Campió del Món IBO, Regne Unit
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Febrer 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremberg, Alemanya
Callum “món” Herrero (23-0, 17 KOs), Regne Unit – Anell #3
(Campió de pes mitjà del CMB Super Diamond)
vs.
Nieky “El Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Països Baixos
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
creuers
Maig 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “El gat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ucraïna – Anell #1
vs.
Murat “Planxa” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Rússia – Anell #2
Juny 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Londres, Regne Unit – AMB / OIB Unificació
“Sant” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Regne Unit, WBA/IBO Champion – Anell #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
