(L-R) – Nieky Holzken & Callum Smith
(Picture courtesy of World Boxing Super Series)
Edmonton, Canada (Kínní 21, 2018) – World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond champion Callum “aye” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs) takes on late replacement Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs) yi Saturday in the last World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) semifinals-round match in the super middleweight division, at Nurnberger Versicherung Arena in Nuremburg, Germany
The Smith vs. Holzken card, ti o bere ni 2 p.m. ATI, will air live in Canada, iyasọtọ lori Super ikanni.
Holzken, an undefeated Dutch prospect, has replaced two-time world champion Juergen Braehmer, ti Germany, who withdrew from the WBSS semifinals match due to illness.
“I have been battling a feverish infection since Sunday,” Braehmer explained. “Laanu, 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 asiwaju “Sir” George oriṣa (28-3, KOs), of the United Kingdom, June 2at The O2 Arena in London, in a battle for the coveted Muhammad Ali Tiroffi.
Super ikanni ipasẹ awọn iyasoto ẹtọ ni Canada to afefe awọn World Boxing Super Series lati MP & Silva, a asiwaju okeere media ile ti o pese media ẹtọ, digitali, imo ati igbowo iṣẹ.
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.
Ni awọn 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,” Smith wi. “Looks like I spoke too soon. We got the call as we were boarding the plane. I am committed to fighting Saturday 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 ni Saturday ká 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 lori 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 Saturday. 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” kaadi, presented by Sauerland Event, yoo air ti iyasọtọ ni Canada on Super ikanni.
In the 10-round WBSS Substitute Fight, Dmitrii “Night Wolf” Chudinov (20-2, 13 KOs), ti Russia, faces an opponent to be determined in the co-featured event. 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Filip Hrgovic (3-0, 3 KOs), ti Croatia, faces Irishman Sean “Big Sexy” Turner (12-1, 8 KOs) ninu ẹya mẹjọ-yika ija; former WBC Youth light heavyweight champion James Kraft (13-0, 9 KOs), ti 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) onigun mẹrin si pa pẹlu Marco Miano (6-6, 2 KOs), ti Italy, 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 Kosi) and Hungarian Jozsef Racz (7-20-1, 2 KOs) may also be aired.
Gbogbo njà ati awọn onija ni o wa koko ọrọ si ayipada.
WORLD Boxing Super jara semifinals iṣeto
CRUISERWEIGHTS
January 27, Riga Arena, Riga, Latvia – WBO / WBC unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), Ukraine
WMDEC12 (115-113, 115-113, 114-114).
Mairis Deer (23-1, 18 KOs), Latvia
(Usyk ni idaduro rẹ WBO akọle ati gba awọn WBC asiwaju)
Kínní 3, Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi, Russia – IBF / WBA unification
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), Russia
WTKO12
Yunier “The KO Dokita” Dorticós (21-1, 20 KOs), Cuba
(Gassiev retained his IBF title and won WBA championship)
Super MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Kínní 17, Manshesita, Gbagede, Manshesita, UK – WBA / feôran unification
“Saint” George oriṣa (28-3, 20 KOs), Apapọ Ijọba Gẹẹsi
WDEC12 (117-112, 116-112, 115-113)
Chris “Next Gen” Eubank Jr. (26-2, 20 KOs), Feôran World asiwaju, Apapọ Ijọba Gẹẹsi
(Groves retained his WBA title and won IBO championship)
Kínní 24, Nurnberger Versicherung Arena, Nuremburg, Germany
Callum “aye” Smith (23-0, 17 KOs), Apapọ Ijọba Gẹẹsi – Iwọn #3
(WBC Diamond Super Middleweight asiwaju)
la.
Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (13-0, 10 KOs), Fiorino
WORLD BOXING SUPER SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
CRUISERWEIGHTS
Le 11, 2018, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – WBC/WBC/WBA/IBF/Ring Unification
Oleksandr “The Cat” Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs), WBO/WBC Champion, Ukraine – Iwọn #1
la.
Murat “Iron” Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs), WBA/IBF Champion, Russia – Iwọn #2
June 2, 2018, The O2 Arena, London, Apapọ Ijọba Gẹẹsi – WBA / feôran unification
“Saint” George oriṣa (28-3, 20 KOs), Apapọ Ijọba Gẹẹsi, WBA/IBO Champion – Iwọn #2
la.
Callum Smith-Nieky Holzken winner
