Universum heavyweight hopefuls Jose Larduet (9-0) and Mourad Aliev won their respective fights Saturday in Ludwigshafen (Germany) but failed to shine,

Larduet outscored Ukrainian Konstantyn Dovbyshchenko (9-12-1) over eight while Aliev (7-0) stopped Ali Kiydin (16-2) in the ninth to win the WBC International Silver title. Aliev won the WBC Mediterranean belt in his last fight and was an excellent amateur but as a pro, well, let's put it this way - there's plenty of room for improvement. 

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Promoter and fighter Timo Schwarzkopf (22-5) headlined his own show in Wangen im Allgau and outscored former world champ Miguel Vazquez (44-12) on a very close, controversial decision.

It was scored 95-94 twice and 98-92 - the difference was a dubious knockdown Schwarzkopf was credited with in the fifth. 

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Bantamweights Vincenzo Picardi (9-0) and Mike Esteves (10-1-1) meet for the vacant EU title on April 14 in Santa Marinella (Italy) on a show promoted by Promo Boxe Italia formerly known as Boxe Loreni.

In the co-feature middleweight Giovanni Rossetti (11-1) defends the national title against Luca Chiancone (7-0-1).

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Swedish light heavyweight prospect Costas Nanga (7-0, 6 KOs) fights veteran Artem Karasev (17-47-3) on February 18 in Riga, Latvia, on a LNK promotion.

Nanga is managed by Oliver Cabrera, who also handles Las Vegas-based cruiserweight Robin Safar (15-0).

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Norwegian cruiser Kai Robin Havnaa (18-0) had surgery on the thumb on his right hand and it will take three months before he can resume full training, reported VG during the week.

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Former EBU middleweight champ Sergio Garcia (33-2) will fight an opponent to be announced on April 15 in Torrelavega (Spain).

Garcia suffered back to back losses to Sebastian Fundora and Tony Harrison in his last two fights.