By Per Ake Persson

Brian Castano has - as been reported elsewhere - been stripped of the WBA "regular" super welterweight title - for his failure to go through with the fight against Michel Soro (33-2-1) on July 20 in Marseille. The WBA have ordered Soro to fight Erislandy Lara.

However, the July 20 show is still on and promoter Sebastien Acaries has lined up Russian Magomed Kurbanov (17-0) as opponent for Soro. According to l´Equipe the vacant WBA super welterweight belt is at stake in this one.

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It´s 60 years ago today (June 26) and it´s still well remembered over here in Sweden how Ingemar Johansson stopped Floyd Patterson in the third at Yankee Stadium in New York City to win the undisputed heavyweight championship of the World June 26 1959.

Johansson was a big underdog and according to the legend American boxing writers just didn´t believe in the stories about Ingo´s right hand, later named Thor´s Hammer. As it was Ingo lost the rematch in 1960 and the two had a third fight in 1961 and Floyd won that one was well.

WBC female super featherweight champ Eva Wahlstrom (22-1-1) will defend the title against Yareli Larios (13-2-1) August 2 in Las Vegas.

The show is promoted by Roy Jones Jr Promotions and if all goes well RJJ will be Wahlstrom´s main promoter in the future but word is that Top Rank is interested in making a Wahlstrom vs Mikaela Mayer fight. There could also be future fights back home in Finland for Wahlstrom.

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British and Commonwealth cruiser king Lawrence Okolie (12-0) is now official challenger for the EBU title held by Belgian Yves Ngabu (20-0). The EBU have set July 17 as deadline for agreements or purse bids.

Okolie defends his titles July 7 in Manchester against Jack Massey.

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There was to have been purse bids Monday (June 24) for a fight for the vacant EU cruiserweight title on Monday but the same day Dane Ditlev Rossing (12-0) pulled out while Italian Fabio Turchi (17-0) remains as sole challenger. A fight between these two hot prospects might happen down the road for a bigger title and more money.