By Per Ake Perrson

Tough Norwegian heavy Rune Lillebuen will get Romanian Marian Tudor as opponent June 11 in Gorzow Wielkapolski on Viking Boxing Promotion´s and Hammer Knockout´s joint venture. Cruiser Krzysztof Wlodarczyk headlines against Brit John Keeton. Hammer Knockout have had offers for bigger fights for "Diablo" but feels their man need more experience.

 

Dariusz Michalczewski´s retirement ends an era in European and German boxing that saw the Universum Boxing Promotion emerge as a major player in big time boxing. Michalczewski began his career at the Legiencenter in 91, a big pool hall where many early Universum shows were staged, in Hamburg and ended it at the 15 000-seat Color Line Arena in the same town in 05. With Michalczewski - and others of course, Universum grew but "Tiger" was the lasting name throughout the years - Universum grew and grew. Michalczewski will remain in boxing as manager and developer of new talent - a field he´s already been active in at home in Poland.

 

Belgian official Daniel Van De Wiele have been forced out as technical advisor for the EBU ratings committee after claims of a conflict of interest. Van De Wiele was several years ago a member of the very same ratings committee but retired after claims of the very same kind.

 

Danish lightweight Martin Kristjansen faces German Nico Salzmann June 17 in Aarhus. Female star Anita Christensen is back after a long layoff and is in against Ukrainian Oksana Romanova. Reda Zam Zam vs Hamlet Petrosian headlines with the vacant WBA I/C 154 lb title at stake.

 

Universum have switched the venue for Erdei vs Sahnoune (WBO 175) July 2 in Hamburg from the Alsterdorfer Sports Hall to the Color Line Arena.

 

Ali Yilderim will have Jendrick Velicky as the opponent for June 5 in Berlin when he goes for the vacant WBB 175 lb title. Velicky is 5-0 and holds a victory over the Yilderim.

Hardpunching Belgian welter Jackson Osei Bonsu defends the IBC title June 11 in Charleroi against Belorussian Sasha Shnip. EU bantam champ Carmelo Ballone squares off against Hungarian Robert Isazegi in the co-headliner. Middleweight Alexander Polizzi faces Frenchman Riad Rekhis. With the Joval vs Diallo fight tonight (June 3) and this event eight days later it´s clear that big time boxing is back in Belgium.

 

Croatian lightheavy Stipe Drews takes on Argentinian Omar Gonzales June 18 in Pula in the co-headliner to Felix Sturm vs Jorge Sendra with the vacant WBO I/C title at stake. Russian supermiddle Dennis Inkin, 23-0, finally gets to make his debut for Universum after being signed up last year.

 

Veteran Silvio Branco meets Serbian Dragu Janusevic on June 17 in Milano on the undercard to Zoff vs Johnson (IBF 135) that also features middleweight Domenico Spada, lightheavy Pietro Aurino and supermiddle Cristian Sanavia.

 

The Spanish-based organization WBA Int´l, suspended by the WBA since last year after an internal dispute, announced yesterday they will change the name to the European Boxing Association, the EBA. This was ironically the name they began using a few years ago but were forced to change it after a dispute with the EBU, European Boxing Union, who claims (or at least did) monopoly on the word "Europe". But times have changed, the EBU is now a member of the WBA where there are several levels of memberships and it is believed to be that the EBA will have a lower level of membership than the EBU. 

Dutch heavy Richel Hersisia returns to action June 9 in Madrid on the undercard to Mallon vs Pickering. Jr middle Pablo Navascues takes on American Terry Tock and Sergio Palomo is in against Brazilian Jilvan Santos Silva in the chief supports. Mini-fly Rafael Lozano continues his comeback against Bulgarian Dimitar Alpiev.

 

Italian Aldo Nicchi defends the IBF Mediterranean 154 lb title against Egyptian Ahmed Mustafa June 24 in Sperlonga.

 

Supermiddles Dimtri Sartison and Alexander Awidjan clash for the vacant Int´l German title June 28 in Cuxhaven with Spotlight Boxing promoting.

 

Swedish middle Benjamin Kalinovic, now training in Miami, FL, has his next outing booked for June 24 in Minnesota. More details to come.