(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Kanada (Febroary 21, 2018) – World Boxing Filan-kevitra (Kapila bitika) Diamond champion Callum “izao tontolo izao” Smith (23-0, 17 Kos) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos) Sabotsy ity in the last World Ady Totohondry Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Alemaina
The Smith vs. Holzken card, manomboka amin'ny 2 p.m. SY, will air live in Canada, fotsiny amin'ny Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, ny Alemaina, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Indrisy anefa fa, 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 World Tompon-daka “Sir” George Groves (28-3, Kos), of the United Kingdom, Jona 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel nahazo ny zo manokana any Kanada mba nandefa ny World Ady Totohondry Super Series avy any MP & Silva, haino aman-jery iraisam-pirenena ny mpitarika orinasa izay manome zo haino aman-jery, Hafanàm-po an, teknolojia sy ny fiahiana ny tolotra.
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.
Ao amin'ny WBSS quarterfinals, Smith took a 12-round unanimous decision from previously unbeaten Erik Skoglund to capture the World Boxing Council (Kapila bitika) Diamond super middleweight title.
“I gave an interview last week and said it was great there have been no drop-outs,” Smith hoe:. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Asabotsy 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 amin'ny Asabotsy ny 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 ny 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 Asabotsy. 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” karatra, presented by Sauerland Event, no iasàny manokana any Kanada amin'ny Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 Kos), ny Rosia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Medaly medaly olimpika Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Kos), ny Kroasia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Kos) amin'ny valo-manodidina bout; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 Kos), ny Alemaina, 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) efamira eny amin'ny Marco Miano (6-6, 2 Kos), ny 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.
Ady sy ny mpiady rehetra, dia mety miova.
WORLD Ady Totohondry SUPER ANDIAN-DAHATSORATRA SEMIFINALS fandaharam-potoana
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Janoary 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letonia – WBO / kapila bitika fampiraisan-tsaina
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), Ukraine
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 Kos), Letonia
(Usyk nihazona ny WBO nahazo anaram-boninahitra, ary ny kapila bitika tompon-daka)
Febroary 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Rosia – IBF / WBA fampiraisan-tsaina
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), Rosia
WTKO12
Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Kos), Kiobà
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Febroary 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / Ibo fampiraisan-tsaina
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Fanjakana Mitambatra
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 Kos), Ibo World Tompon-daka, Fanjakana Mitambatra
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Febroary 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Alemaina
Callum “izao tontolo izao” Smith (23-0, 17 Kos), Fanjakana Mitambatra – Ring #3
(Kapila bitika Diamond Super Middleweight Tompon-daka)
vs.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos), Pays-Bas
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Mey 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraine – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), WBA/IBF Champion, Rosia – Ring #2
Jona 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Fanjakana Mitambatra – WBA / Ibo fampiraisan-tsaina
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Fanjakana Mitambatra, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
