(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Fevriye 21, 2018) – Mondyal boksè Konsèy (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “mond” Smith (23-0, 17 Ko) takes on late replacement Nieky “Natirèl la” Holzken (13-0, 10 Ko) sa a Samdi in the last Boksè mondyal la Super Seri (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Almay
The Smith vs. Holzken card, kòmanse nan 2 p.m. AK, will air live in Canada, sèlman sou Super Chèn.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Jürgen Braehmer, nan Almay, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Malerezman, 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 Mondyal Champion “Sir” George Groves (28-3, Ko), of the United Kingdom, Jen 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Chèn akeri dwa yo san konte nan Kanada nan emisyon Boksè mondyal la Super Seri a soti nan MP & Silva, yon dirijan medya entènasyonal konpayi ki bay dwa medya, dijital, teknoloji ak parennaj sèvis.
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.
Nan kar yo 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 te di. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Samdi 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 nan Samdi a 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 sou 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 Samdi. 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” kat, presented by Sauerland Event, pral nan lè sèlman nan Kanada sou Super Chèn.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 Ko), nan Larisi, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 Ko), a Kwoasi, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 Ko) nan yon bout uit-wonn; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 Ko), nan Almay, 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) kare koupe ak Marco Miano (6-6, 2 Ko), nan peyi 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 Ko) and Hungarian Jozsef Racz (7-20-1, 2 Ko) may also be aired.
Tout batay ak avyon de gè yo sijè a chanjman.
Boksè mondyal la SUPER Series semifinals ORÈ
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Janvye 27, riga Arena, riga, Letoni – WBO / WBC Inifikasyon
Oleksandr “chat nan” Usyk (14-0, 11 Ko), Ikrèn
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 Ko), Letoni
(Usyk double klas tit WBO l ', li te genyen chanpyona nan WBC)
Fevriye 3, Bolshoy glas Laj twati, Sochi, Larisi – IBF / WBA Inifikasyon
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Ko), Larisi
WTKO12
Yunier “KO Doktè a” Dorticós (21-1, 20 Ko), Kiba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Fevriye 17, Manchester, Arena, Manchester, UK – WBA / IBO Inifikasyon
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Ko), Wayòm Ini
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen” EUBANK Jr. (26-2, 20 Ko), IBO Mondyal Champion, Wayòm Ini
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Fevriye 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Almay
Callum “mond” Smith (23-0, 17 Ko), Wayòm Ini – Ring #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
vs.
Nieky “Natirèl la” Holzken (13-0, 10 Ko), Netherlands
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Me 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “chat nan” Usyk (14-0, 11 Ko), WBO/WBC Champion, Ikrèn – Ring #1
vs.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 Ko), WBA/IBF Champion, Larisi – Ring #2
Jen 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Wayòm Ini – WBA / IBO Inifikasyon
“Saint” George Groves (28-3, 20 Ko), Wayòm Ini, WBA/IBO Champion – Ring #2
vs.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
