(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Larawan sa kagandahang-loob ng World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Canada (Pebrero 21, 2018) – World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “mundo” Magpanday (23-0, 17 Kos) takes on late replacement Nieky “ang Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos) ito Sabado in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Alemanya
The Smith vs. Holzken card, na nagsisimula sa 2 p.m. AT, will air live in Canada, eksklusibo sa Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, ng Germany, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Sa kasamaang-palad, 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 Champion “Ginoo” George Groves (28-3, Kos), of the United Kingdom, Hunyo 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Tropeo.
Super Channel nakuha ang eksklusibong karapatan sa Canada na mag-broadcast sa World Boxing Super Series mula MP & Silva, isang nangungunang kumpanya internasyonal na media na nagbibigay ng mga karapatan media, digital, teknolohiya at pag-sponsor serbisyo.
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.
Sa WBSS quarterfinals, 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,” Sinabi Smith. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Sabado 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 sa Sabado ng 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 sa ibabaw 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 Sabado. 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” kard, presented by Sauerland Event, ay maisahimpapawid eksklusibo sa Canada noong Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 Kos), ng Russia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Kos), ng Croatia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Kos) sa isang walong-ikot labanan; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 Kos), ng Germany, 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) parisukat-off sa Marco Miano (6-6, 2 Kos), ng Italya, 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.
Ang lahat ng mga fights at fighters ay sakop sa pagbabago.
WORLD Boxing SUPER SERYE semifinals SCHEDULE
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Enero 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Letonya – WBO / WBC Unification
Oleksandr “Ang pusa” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), Ukraina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 Kos), Letonya
(Usyk pinanatili ang kanyang WBO title at nanalo sa WBC championship)
Pebrero 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF / WBA Unification
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), Russia
WTKO12
Yunier “Ang KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Kos), Kubo
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Pebrero 17, Mansester, Arena, Mansester, Reyno Unido – WBA / IBO Unification
“Santo” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Reyno Unido
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Susunod na henerasyon” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 Kos), IBO World Champion, Reyno Unido
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Pebrero 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Alemanya
Callum “mundo” Magpanday (23-0, 17 Kos), Reyno Unido – Singsing #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
vs.
Nieky “ang Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 Kos), Olanda
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Mayo 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Ang pusa” Usyk (14-0, 11 Kos), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraina – Singsing #1
vs.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Kos), WBA/IBF Champion, Russia – Singsing #2
Hunyo 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Reyno Unido – WBA / IBO Unification
“Santo” George Groves (28-3, 20 Kos), Reyno Unido, WBA/IBO Champion – Singsing #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
