(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
EDMONTON, Kanada (Február 21, 2018) – World Boxing Rady (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “svet” Kovář (23-0, 17 KO) takes on late replacement Nieky “Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO) túto sobotu in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Nemecko
The Smith vs. Holzken card, počnúc 2 p.m. A, will air live in Canada, výhradne na Super Channel.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, Nemecko, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Bohužiaľ, 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 strednej majster sveta “Pane” George Groves (28-3, KO), of the United Kingdom, Jún 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Super Channel získal výhradné práva v Kanade vysielať World Boxing Super Series z MP & Silva, predné medzinárodná mediálna spoločnosť, ktorá poskytuje mediálne práva, digitálny, technológie a sponzorské služby.
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.
Vo štvrťfinále 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 povedal. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Sobota 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 v Sobotné 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 cez 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 Sobota. 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” karta, presented by Sauerland Event, bude vysielať výhradne v Kanade na Super Channel.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KO), Ruska, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Bronzový olympijský medailista Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KO), Chorvátska, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KO) v osem-dokola záchvat; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KO), Nemecko, 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) štvorca off s Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KO), Taliansko, 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.
Všetky boje a bojovníci sa môžu zmeniť.
Svetový boxerský Super Series semifinále PLÁN
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Január 27, Riga Arena, riga, Lotyšsko – WBO / WBC Zjednotenie
Oleksandr “Mačka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), Ukrajina
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KO), Lotyšsko
(Usyk udržal jeho titul WBO a vyhral šampionát WBC)
Február 3, Boľšoj, Sochi, Rusko – IBF / WBA Zjednotenie
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), Rusko
WTKO12
Yunier “KO Doctor” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KO), Kuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
SUPER strednej váhy
Február 17, Manchester, Aréna, Manchester, Spojené kráľovstvo – WBA / IBO Zjednotenie
“Svätý” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Veľká Británia
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Ďalšia generácia” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KO), IBO majster sveta, Veľká Británia
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Február 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Norimberg, Nemecko
Callum “svet” Kovář (23-0, 17 KO), Veľká Británia – Krúžok #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight Champion)
proti.
Nieky “Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KO), Holandsko
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Máj 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “Mačka” Usyk (14-0, 11 KO), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukrajina – Krúžok #1
proti.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KO), WBA/IBF Champion, Rusko – Krúžok #2
Jún 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, Londýn, Veľká Británia – WBA / IBO Zjednotenie
“Svätý” George Groves (28-3, 20 KO), Veľká Británia, WBA/IBO Champion – Krúžok #2
proti.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
