The World Boxing Organization (WBO), chaired by Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcárcel, will have seven fights in different parts of the world this upcoming weekend.
Saturday, May 19:
In Australia, there will be a duel of unbeatens when the popular Australian Liam Paro (13-0, 9 KO’s) faces Sebastian Bytyqi (11-0-1, 8 KO’s) of the Czech Republic for the vacant WBO Youth Jr. Welterweight title. The fight is scheduled for 10 rounds and it’ll take place at the Southport Sharks AFL Club in Southport.
“Paro and Bytyqi have the backing of world champions for this fight. Paro has been sparring with our WBO world champion Jeff Horn and in Bytyqi’s corner, he has Lukas Konecny, a former interim WBO champion and is the best fighter the Czech Republic has given so far”, said Valcárcel.
In Turkey, from the Spor Salonu in Trabzon, former world champion and WBO #2 Firat Arslan (47-8-2, 26 KO’s) will face Isaac Paa Kwesi Ankrah (14-7, 12 KO’s) of Ghana in a 10 round bout for the WBO Inter-Continental Jr. Heavyweight belt. Former Olympian, current WBO junior welterweight European champion and #12 ranked, Fatih Keles (10-0-1, 5 KO’s) of Turkey, will be making the third defense of his title against Russian Maxim Churbanov (8-3-1) and former Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen (8-0-0) will defend his WBO European Heavyweight Title against Georgia’s Tornike Puritchamiashvili (11-8-0, 7 KO’s).
In England, WBO Inter-Continental Junior Welterweight title holder and 4th ranked Jack Catterall (20-0, 11 KO’s) will be making his seventh title defense against Frenchman Christopher Sebire (26-10-1, 9 KO’s). Then, in duel of Englishmen, Darren Tetley (15-0, 6 KO’s) will face Mason Cartwright (13-0-1, 5 KO’s) for the vacant WBO welterweight European belt. The fight venue is the Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds.
Sunday – May, 20 2018
The boxing movement of WBO regional titles continues, and will take place in Japan, where the WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight champion and #2 ranked Nihito Arakawa (31-6-1, 18 KO’s) will put his title on the line against Filipino, Rimar Metuda (12-3, 7 KO’s) in a bout that’ll take place in the Ota-City General Gymnasium.
“We are very active all around the world. We are extending our organization so that the best fighters represent the WBO. Several of the fighters who will see action this weekend are close to going for a world title. Arakawa, Catterall, Arslan, Demirezen and Keles are very well ranked. If they continue with their winning streaks, great things will come for them”, expressed Valcárcel.