***It´s on: Braekhus vs. Holm – Sauerland: “Biggest fight in women´s boxing”***

 

The biggest fight in women´s boxing is finally on! Later this year, WBA, WBC & WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (18-0, 4 KOs) will take on US superstar & pound-for-pound queen Holly Holm (30-1-3, 9 KOs) in a hotly-anticipated showdown that has been a long time in the making. The fight will take place at one of Team Sauerland´s shows in Europe in September or October and will be promoted in association with Fresquez Productions. “We are thrilled to have finalised all the details for this mega fight,” promoter Kalle Sauerland said. “We have been working on this clash for a long, long time. It´s the two best female fighters out there battling it out. What more can you ask for? I am sure that Cecilia will cement her position as the world´s top female fighter with a spectacular victory. I can´t wait to see the two of them in the ring.”

 

Braekhus received the news in her training camp in Kienbaum. “That´s fantastic,” she enthused. “I have been waiting to fight Holly Holm for such a long time. She is a great fighter but so I am. There can only be one winner and that will be me. I believe I am faster, stronger and better than her. It will be a great, great fight – the biggest female fight of the year and definitely one to remember for a long time.”

 

Holly Holm is also looking forward to the showdown: “I am excited to leave America and come to Europe to prove that I am the best female boxer in the world,” she stated. “I am the undisputed pound-for-pound queen and I can´t wait to show everybody in Europe that I am the best. I have a lot of respect for Cecilia. Her career has been impressive. It will be a great fight.”

 

And her promoter Lenny Fresquez added: “It´s an honor to be coming over. Cecilia’s winning streak will come to an end once she gets into the ring with Holly. Holly is too skilled for her. There is a reason why Holly is considered the best and Cecilia will find out the hard way after the first bell. Just look at the difference in quality of opposition. This is going to be the biggest female fight since Holly knocked the … off Mary Joe Sanders at 154lb who was 25-0. Till she met Holm. This fight will be no different – Holly will destroy another quality opponent.“

HOBOKEN, N.J. – Trans-Atlantic boxer Ashley “Treasure” Theophane  defends his British Boxing Board of Control (“BBB of C”) light welterweight title July 23 in the 12-round co-feature against Welsh champion Jason “The Power” Cook on “The Big Brawl” Pay-Per-View Event, live from Wembley Arena in London.

“The Big Brawl” features undefeated Irishman Tyson Fury (14-0, 10 KOs) challenging British and Commonwealth heavyweight Champion Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora (14-0, 9 KOs) in the 12 round main event.

Preparing for fights the past six years, Theophane (29-4-1, 7 KOs) has successfully split training camps between his hometown, London, and adopted home, New York City. “As a kid,” he explained, “I watched (Mike) Tyson and (Marvin) Hagler and wanted to come to America to train and fight. For my 11th fight I came to Gleason’s Gym (in NYC) to see if I was good enough. I held my own and gained confidence sparring Pauli Malignaggi, Chris Smith and Elio Rojas. I’ve keep coming back to New York City and also gained good experience working with (Yuri) Foreman and Dmitriy) Salita. I only sparred with Paulie once, but I watched him go on to big fights against (Ricky) Hatton and (Amir Khan). I would like to get to fight big names like that.

“I’d love to fight the winner of Khan-(Zab) Judah. For now, though, I want to make three quick defences of my title belt (champions need to successfully defend BBB of C titles three times) to keep my belt. Then, maybe, the European title and on to what I’ve always wanted, the world title.”

Theophane, rated No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation, captured the BBB of C light welterweight championship in his last fight, taking a unanimous 12-round decision against Lenny Daws (21-1-2) this past February in London. Ashley’s most significant victories to date have been versus Delvin Rodriguez (DEC10) and former world champion DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (DEC8).

The majority of Theophane’s pro fights have been as a welterweight, despite the 5’ 7” Ashley being a natural light welterweight. “I’ve always been a light welterweight but couldn’t get good opportunities at 140 pounds,” Ashley commented. “My biggest fight opportunities came at 147 and I took them. I make 140 pounds fine with a little more preparation and watching what I eat. I still feel good and put on 10-12 pounds hydrating after the weigh in.  I feel strong at light welterweight. They (140 pounders) are a bit quicker but the majority are my size, averaging 5’ 8, not six footers.”

This Saturday night, on the undercard of the IBF Super Middleweight World Championship between Lucian Bute (28-0, 23KO's) and IBF #1 contender, Jean-Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16KO's), WBO European Bantamweight Champion, Sahib Usarov (15-0, 6KO's) will make his Star Boxing debut when he takes on hard-hitting Sergio Gomez Acevedo (16-8, 12KO's) in an eight round super bantamweight match-up.  The bout is promoted by EuroPlus Computers S.R.L. and Interbox in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.

The southpaw Usarov, picked up the vacant WBO European belt with a twelve round shut-out over Alexander Fedorov in October of 2009.  Since then he has fought just twice, including a win over previously undefeated Ilhom Rahimov.  Looking to be more active, and begin making a name for himself on the world scene, Usarov signed with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing earlier this spring.  The bout on Saturday night will only be Usarov's second outside of Russia.

"Sahib is a very exciting fighter, and we think he can immediately become a major player in his division," stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing.  "This is a great opportunity for him to be able to fight on a card of this magnitude, before a sold out crowd.  We expect Sahib to win and win impressively, and are looking forward to bringing him over state-side sometime in the very near future."

Usarov vs. Acevedo is scheduled for eight rounds in the super bantamweight division.  In the main event Lucian Bute (28-0, 23KO's) defends his IBF Super Middleweight Championship against IBF #1 contender Jean-Paul Mendy (29-0-1, 16KO's).  Both bouts are promoted by EuroPlus Computers S.R.L. and Interbox in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.