(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (February 21, 2018) – Orbis Terrarum II Boxing (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “orbis” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “Naturalis” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) hoc Saturday in the last Super Series mundo pugilatu (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Germania
The Smith vs. Holzken card, starting at 2 p.m. ATQUE, will air live in Canada, Super solum Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Germaniae, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Infeliciter, 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 Mundus Champion “Sir” George picis lucos (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, June 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Machometus Ali Trophaeus.
Super Channel iure acquiritur quod exclusive ad iaci in Canada in mundo pugilatu Super Series a procul & Silva, comitatu providet media, ut media ducit ad ius gentium, digital, et technology auctore muneris.
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.
In quartam-finales 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 dixit. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Saturday 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 in Tuesday scriptor 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 super 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 Saturday. 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” card, presented by Sauerland Event, et aeri salubriori exponendas solum in Canada, in Eximius Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), of Russia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), Croatiae, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) octo-in circuitu; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), Germaniae, 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) cum quadratis Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), Italiae, 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.
Omnia subiecta sunt pugnatores ad bella et mutatio.
RATIO ORBIS TERRARUM BOXING Super Series semi-finales
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Pulvis Riga, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Unificationis
Oleksandr “et Cattus” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ucraina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Cervos Mairis (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk suo retinuit, et lucratus est titulus WBO pilae WBC)
February 3, Bolshoy glacies Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF / WBA Unificationis
Murat “Ferrum” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Russia
WTKO12
Yunier “Quod Doctor KO” Dorticos (21-1, 20 KOs), Cuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
February 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Unificationis
“Saint” George picis lucos (28-3, 20 KOs), Britanniarum Regnum
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen.” Eubank Jr.. (26-2, 20 KOs), IBO Mundus Champion, Britanniarum Regnum
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
February 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Germania
Callum “orbis” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), Britanniarum Regnum – Ring #3
(Diamond Pectus WBC super middleweight champion)
vs.
Nieky “Naturalis” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Netherlands
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
May 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “et Cattus” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ucraina – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Ferrum” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Russia – Ring #2
June 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Britanniarum Regnum – WBA / IBO Unificationis
“Saint” George picis lucos (28-3, 20 KOs), Britanniarum Regnum, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
