(L-R) – někam Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Únor 21, 2018) – World Boxing Rady (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “svět” Kovář (23-0, 17 KO) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO) tuto sobotu in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Německo
The Smith vs. Holzken card, začíná na 2 p.m. A, will air live in Canada, výhradně na Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Německo, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Bohužel, 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 střední mistr světa “Pane” George Groves (28-3, KO), of the United Kingdom, Červen 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel získal výhradní práva v Kanadě vysílat World Boxing Super Series z MP & Silva, přední mezinárodní mediální společnost, která poskytuje mediální práva, digitální, technologie a sponzorské služby.
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.
Ve čtvrtfinále WBSS, 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 řekl. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Sobota 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 v Sobotní 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 přes 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 Sobota. 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” karta, presented by Sauerland Event, bude vysílat výhradně v Kanadě na Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KO), Ruska, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KO), Chorvatska, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KO) v osm-dokola záchvat; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KO), Německo, meets Cameroon native Bernard Donfack (23-17-3, 11 KO) in an eight round super middleweight match; 19-year-old German super middleweight Leon Bauer (12-0-1, 8 KO) čtverce off s Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KO), Itálie, 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 KO) may also be aired.
Všechny boje a bojovníci se mohou změnit.
Světový boxerský Super Series semifinále PLÁN
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Leden 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Sjednocení
Oleksandr “Kočka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), Ukrajina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KO), Latvia
(Usyk udržel jeho titul WBO a vyhrál šampionát WBC)
Únor 3, Bolšoj, Sochi, Rusko – IBF / WBA Sjednocení
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), Rusko
WTKO12
Yunier “KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KO), Kuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER střední váhy
Únor 17, Manchester, Aréna, Manchester, Spojené království – WBA / IBO Sjednocení
“Svatý” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Velká Británie
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Příští generace” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KO), IBO mistr světa, Velká Británie
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Únor 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Norimberk, Německo
Callum “svět” Kovář (23-0, 17 KO), Velká Británie – Kroužek #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
proti.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO), Nizozemsko
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Květen 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Kočka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukrajina – Kroužek #1
proti.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusko – Kroužek #2
Červen 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Londýn, Velká Británie – WBA / IBO Sjednocení
“Svatý” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Velká Británie, WBA/IBO Champion – Kroužek #2
proti.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
