(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Kanada (Helmikuu 21, 2018) – World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “maailma” Seppä (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) lauantaina in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Saksa
The Smith vs. Holzken card, klo 2 p.m. JA, will air live in Canada, yksinomaan Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Jürgen Braehmer, Saksan, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Valitettavasti, 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 Keskisarja Maailmanmestari “Sir” George Groves (28-3, KOs), Yhdistyneestä kuningaskunnasta, Kesäkuu 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel hankkinut yksinoikeuden Kanadassa lähettää World Boxing Super Series MP & Silva, johtava kansainvälinen mediayritys, joka tarjoaa mediaoikeudet, digitaalinen, teknologia ja sponsorointi palvelut.
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.
Vuonna WBSS puolivälierissä, 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 sanoi. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Lauantai 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 sisään Lauantain 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 yli 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 Lauantai. 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!”
Viisi jännittävä taistelee annetun “Smith-Holzken” kortti, presented by Sauerland Event, tulee ilmaa ainoastaan Kanadan Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), Venäjän, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic pronssimitalisti Filip Hrgović (3-0, 3 KOs), Kroatian, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) in kahdeksan kierroksen ottelu; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), Saksan, 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) neliöitä pois Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), Italia, 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.
Kaikki taistelee ja taistelijat voivat muuttua.
World Boxing Super Series välieriin AIKATAULU
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Tammikuu 27, Riian areenan, Riika, Latvia – WBO / WBC: n yhdistäminen
Oleksandr “Kissa” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukraina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk säilytti WBO otsikko ja voitti WBC mestaruuden)
Helmikuu 3, Bolšoi-areena, Sotši, Venäjä – IBF / WBA yhtenäistämisestä
Murat “Rauta” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Venäjä
WTKO12
Yunier “KO-Tohtori” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KOs), Kuuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Helmikuu 17, Manchester, Areena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO yhtenäistämisestä
“Pyhimys” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Iso-Britannia
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), IBO Maailmanmestari, Iso-Britannia
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Helmikuu 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nürnberg, Saksa
Callum “maailma” Seppä (23-0, 17 KOs), Iso-Britannia – Rengas #3
(WBC Diamond Super Keskisarja mestari)
vs.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Alankomaat
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Toukokuu 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Kissa” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraina – Rengas #1
vs.
Murat “Rauta” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Venäjä – Rengas #2
Kesäkuu 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Lontoo, Iso-Britannia – WBA / IBO yhtenäistämisestä
“Pyhimys” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Iso-Britannia, WBA/IBO Champion – Rengas #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
