(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Februari 21, 2018) – Majlis Tinju Dunia (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “dunia” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) Sabtu ini in the last World Series Super Tinju (WBS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Jerman
The Smith vs. Holzken card, bermula 2 petang. DAN, will air live in Canada, semata-mata pada Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Jerman, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Malangnya, 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 Juara Dunia “Sir” George Groves (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, Jun 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel memperoleh hak eksklusif di Kanada untuk menyiarkan Siri Super Tinju Dunia dari MP & Silva, syarikat media antarabangsa terkemuka yang menyediakan hak-hak media, digital, perkhidmatan teknologi dan penajaan.
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.
Pada suku akhir WBS, 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 berkata. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Sabtu 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 dalam Sabtu 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 lebih 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 Sabtu. 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” kad, presented by Sauerland Event, akan disiarkan secara eksklusif di Kanada pada Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), Rusia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Pemenang pingat gangsa Olimpik Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), Croatia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) dalam pertarungan lapan pusingan; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), Jerman, 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) dataran di luar dengan Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), Itali, 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.
Semua pergaduhan dan pejuang adalah tertakluk kepada perubahan.
JADUAL WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES Separuh Akhir
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Januari 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Penyatuan
Oleksandr “Kucing itu” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukraine
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk mengekalkan gelaran WBO dan memenangi kejohanan WBC)
Februari 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Rusia – IBF / WBA Penyatuan
Murat “Besi” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Rusia
WTKO12
Yunier “The KO Doctor” Dorticos (21-1, 20 KOs), Cuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Februari 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Penyatuan
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), United Kingdom
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Generasi seterusnya” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), Juara Dunia IBO, United Kingdom
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Februari 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Jerman
Callum “dunia” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), United Kingdom – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
vs.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Belanda
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Mei 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Kucing itu” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraine – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Besi” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusia – Ring #2
Jun 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, United Kingdom – WBA / IBO Penyatuan
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), United Kingdom, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
