(L-R) – Neki Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Kanada (Veljača 21, 2018) – World Boxing vijeće (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “svijet” Kovač (23-0, 17 Kos) takes on late replacement Nieky “Prirodni” 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, s 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 boksačka organizacija (IBO) Super srednjoj svjetski prvak “Sir” George Groves (28-3, Kos), of the United Kingdom, Lipanj 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel stekao ekskluzivna prava u Kanadi za emitiranje World Boxing Super serija iz MP & Silva, vodeća tvrtka svjetski mediji koji pruža medijskih prava, 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 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, čvrste borac. 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!”
Pet uzbudljivih tučnjava “Smith-Holzken” kartica, presented by Sauerland Event, će zraka 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 Olimpijski brončani Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Kos), Hrvatska, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Kos) u osam okrugli nastup; 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) trgovi off s 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 SERIJA POLUFINALE RASPORED
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Siječanj 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letonija – WBO / WBC Ujedinjenje
Oleksandr “Mačka” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), Ukrajina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis jelene (23-1, 18 Kos), Letonija
(Usyk zadržao WBO naslov i osvojio prvenstvo WBC)
Veljača 3, Ledena dvorana Boljšoj, Sočiju, Rusija – IBF / WBA Ujedinjenje
Murat “Željezo” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), Rusija
WTKO12
Yunier “Ko Doktor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Kos), Kuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Veljača 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Ujedinjenje
“Svetac” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Sljedeća generacija” Eubank Jr.. (26-2, 20 Kos), IBO svjetski prvak, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Veljača 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nürnberga, Njemačka
Callum “svijet” Kovač (23-0, 17 Kos), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – Prsten #3
(WBC Diamond Super srednjoj prvak)
vs.
Nieky “Prirodni” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos), Holandija
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Svibanj 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 “Željezo” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusija – Prsten #2
Lipanj 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo – WBA / IBO Ujedinjenje
“Svetac” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Ujedinjeno Kraljevstvo, WBA/IBO Champion – Prsten #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
