(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Kanada (Pebruari 21, 2018) – Dunya tinju Déwan (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “dunya” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “’90-91” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) Saptu ieu in the last Dunya tinju Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Jerman
The Smith vs. Holzken card, dimimitian di 2 p.m. AND, will air live in Canada, éksklusif di Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Jérman, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Hanjakalna, 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 Jawara “Sir” George Groves (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, Juni 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel kaala hak ekslusif di Kanada pikeun disiarkeun di Dunya tinju Super Series tina MP & Silva, a parusahaan ngarah média internasional nu nyadiakeun hak média, digital, téhnologi jeung sponsor jasa.
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.
Dina quarterfinals 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 ceuk. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Saptu 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 dina Saptu sacara 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 di luhur 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 Saptu. 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” kartu, presented by Sauerland Event, bakal hawa éksklusif di Kanada on 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 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), Kroasia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) dina dalapan buleud bout; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), Jérman, 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) kuadrat off jeung Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), 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.
Sadaya gelut jeung pejuang nu matuh ka parobahan.
WORLD tinju super runtuyan semifinal jadwal
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Januari 27, Riga sarena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC Ngahijikeun Tatar
Oleksandr “Cat kana” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukraine
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Rusa (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk dipikagaduh judul WBO sarta meunang jawara WBC)
Pebruari 3, Bolshoy És Kubah, Sochi, Rusia – IBF / WBA Ngahijikeun Tatar
Murat “Beusi” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Rusia
WTKO12
Yunier “The KO Dokter” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KOs), Cuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Pebruari 17, Manchester, Pakalangan, Manchester, Inggris – WBA / IBO Ngahijikeun Tatar
“Urang suci” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Karajaan Inggris
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “salajengna Gen” Eubank JR. (26-2, 20 KOs), IBO World Jawara, Karajaan Inggris
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Pebruari 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Jerman
Callum “dunya” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), Karajaan Inggris – Ngirining #3
(WBC Inten Super Middleweight Jawara)
vs.
Nieky “’90-91” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Walanda
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Mei 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Cat kana” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraine – Ngirining #1
vs.
Murat “Beusi” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusia – Ngirining #2
Juni 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Karajaan Inggris – WBA / IBO Ngahijikeun Tatar
“Urang suci” George Groves (28-3, 20 KOs), Karajaan Inggris, WBA/IBO Champion – Ngirining #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
