(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Kanadë (Shkurt 21, 2018) – Këshilli Botëror Boxing (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “botë” Kovaç (23-0, 17 KO) takes on late replacement Nieky “Natyrore” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO) kjo e shtune in the last Bota Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Gjermani
The Smith vs. Holzken card, duke filluar në 2 ores. DHE, will air live in Canada, ekskluzivisht në Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, e Gjermanisë, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Për fat të keq, 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 mesme World Champion “Zotëri” George Groves (28-3, KO), of the United Kingdom, Qershor 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel fituar të drejtat ekskluzive në Kanada për të transmetuar Bota Boxing Super Series nga deputet & Silva, një kompani udhëheqëse media ndërkombëtare që ofron të drejtat e medias, dixhital, teknologji dhe sponsorizimi shërbimet.
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.
Në çerekfinale 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 tha. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting E shtunë 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 në E shtunë-së 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 gjatë 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 E shtunë. 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” kartë, presented by Sauerland Event, do të ajrit ekskluzivisht në Kanada në Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KO), i Rusisë, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KO), e Kroacisë, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KO) në një periudhë tetë-rrumbullakët; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KO), e Gjermanisë, meets Cameroon native Bernard Donfack (23-17-3, 11 KO) in an eight round super middleweight match; 19-year-old German super middleweight Leon Bauer (12-0-1, 8 KO) sheshet off me Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KO), e Italisë, 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 KO) may also be aired.
Të gjitha lufton dhe luftëtarë janë subjekt i ndryshimeve.
Bota Boxing SUPER SERIES gjysmëfinale ORARI
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Janar 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letoni – WBO / WBC Unifikimi
Oleksandr “Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), Ukrainë
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KO), Letoni
(Usyk ruajti titullin e tij WBO dhe fitoi kampionatin WBC)
Shkurt 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Rusi – IBF / WBA Unifikimi
Murat “Hekur” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), Rusi
WTKO12
Yunier “KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KO), Kubë
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Shkurt 17, Manchester, Arenë, Manchester, Britani e Madhe – WBA / IBO Unifikimi
“Shenjt” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Angli
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Gen Next” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KO), IBO World Champion, Angli
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Shkurt 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremberg, Gjermani
Callum “botë” Kovaç (23-0, 17 KO), Angli – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super mesme kampion)
vs.
Nieky “Natyrore” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO), Holandë
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Maj 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukrainë – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Hekur” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusi – Ring #2
Qershor 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Londër, Angli – WBA / IBO Unifikimi
“Shenjt” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Angli, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
