(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (Feabhra 21, 2018) – Comhairle Dornálaíochta an Domhain (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “domhan” Gabha (23-0, 17 Kos) takes on late replacement Nieky “An Nádúrtha” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos) Dé Sathairn in the last Dornálaíochta an Domhain Super Sraith (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, An Ghearmáin
The Smith vs. Holzken card, ag tosú ag 2 p.m. AGUS, will air live in Canada, go heisiach ar Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, na Gearmáine, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Ar an drochuair, 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 Middleweight Champion Domhanda “Sir” George Groves (28-3, Kos), of the United Kingdom, Meitheamh 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
fuair Super Channel na cearta eisiacha i gCeanada a chraoladh ar an Super Sraith an Domhain Dornálaíochta ó MP & Silva, príomhchomhlacht meáin chumarsáide idirnáisiúnta a sholáthraíonn cearta na meán, digiteach, Seirbhísí teicneolaíochta agus urraíochta.
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.
Sa ceathrú 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 dúirt. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Dé Sathairn 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 i Dé Sathairn 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 níos mó 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 Dé Sathairn. 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” cárta, presented by Sauerland Event, Beidh aeir go heisiach i gCeanada ar Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 Kos), na Rúise, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Kos), na Cróite, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Kos) i bout ocht-bhabhta; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 Kos), na Gearmáine, 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) cearnóga amach le Marco Miano (6-6, 2 Kos), na hIodáile, 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.
Tá gach troideanna agus na trodaithe faoi réir athraithe.
WORLD Dornálaíocht SUPER SRAITH leath-finals SCEIDEAL
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Eanáir 27, riga Arena, riga, An Laitvia – WBO / WBC Aontú
Oleksandr “An cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), An Úcráin
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 Kos), An Laitvia
(Usyk choinnigh a theideal WBO agus bhuaigh an Craobh WBC)
Feabhra 3, Bolshoy Dome Oighear, Sochi, Rúis – IBF / WBA Aontú
Murat “Iarann” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), Rúis
WTKO12
Yunier “An Dochtúir KO” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Kos), Cúba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Feabhra 17, Manchain, Réimse, Manchain, An Ríocht Aontaithe – WBA / IBO Aontú
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), An Ríocht Aontaithe
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Gen Aghaidh” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 Kos), IBO Champion Domhanda, An Ríocht Aontaithe
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Feabhra 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, An Ghearmáin
Callum “domhan” Gabha (23-0, 17 Kos), An Ríocht Aontaithe – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
vs.
Nieky “An Nádúrtha” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos), Ísiltír
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Bealtaine 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “An cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), WBO/WBC Champion, An Úcráin – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Iarann” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), WBA/IBF Champion, Rúis – Ring #2
Meitheamh 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Londain, An Ríocht Aontaithe – WBA / IBO Aontú
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), An Ríocht Aontaithe, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
