Naim Terbunja (10-1, 6 KOs) says he will make Sven Fornling (10-1, 1 KOs) regret his words when the domestic rivals meet for the Swedish Light Heavyweight title on December 9 at the Rosvalla Arena in Nyköping.
The 2008 Olympian has been hard at work preparing for the hotly anticipated clash. A six-week training camp in New York with coach Pat Zagarino has seen him gain World-class sparring with Joe Smith Jr, who fights living legend Bernard Hopkins in December, undefeated pro Sean Monaghan and former Swedish and Ugandan Olympian Kennedy Katende, who holds an amateur win over Fornling.
‘’I took two weeks off after my last fight to give my body some rest, but the last six weeks I‘ve been in camp in New York, and I feel great. I’ve had some top sparring with Joe Smith, Sean Monaghan and my best friend Kennedy Katende, and I couldn’t be better prepared!‘’
The 32 year-old admits he is now eager to settle the score with Fornling after the Malmo-boxer described him as ‘one of the biggest disappointments in Swedish boxing’.
‘’I laughed the first time I heard that and I’m still laughing now,’’ he said. ‘’He doesn’t know what I’ve been through the past years. I had two years waiting for my US visa, followed by two surgeries and almost another two years out of the ring. There are not a lot of fighters who have been through what I’ve been through and kept going. I don’t think he realises what he’s up against, but he’ll find out on December 9, and I’ll make him regret his words!
‘’I’m very confident, and in fact, my toughest assignment is not to underestimate him. I would never usually predict how I will win a fight, but seeing how Sven likes runs in with no strategy, I think there’s a chance he might just knock himself out by running into something.
‘’We’re on totally different levels, and like Tyson said, everybody has a plan until they get hit. It’s easy to chase bums, but let’s see if he chases me when I hit him, time after time.’’
Terbunja and Fornling square off for the Swedish Light Heavyweight title on the undercard of Erik Skoglund’s WBA International Light Heavyweight Championship test against ‘The Albanian Bomber’ Timy Shala.
Tickets are available online via www.biljettforum.se or by calling 0771-130 150. All the action will be shown live and exclusive in Scandinavia on Viaplay Fighting. For more information please visit www.viaplay.se.
Maynard Communications has been appointed by the IBF World Super-Middleweight Champion James DeGale MBE to handle his PR ahead of his history-making World title unification contest against rival WBC World Champion Badou Jack.
The leading boxing communications agency will look after DeGale’s media requirements as the British star heads towards his history-making showdown against Jack on Saturday 14th January at the Barclays Center in New York.
DeGale created British boxing history when he sensationally defeated Andre Dirrell in Boston in May 2015 to become the first ever Olympic Gold medalist boxer to win a world title.
The trail-blazing Londoner continued his campaign across the Atlantic with the first defence of his IBF crown against Lucian Bute in Canada last November and followed that up in April this year against Rogelio Medina in Washington.
The classy, hard-hitting, southpaw is now looking to do what no other British super-middleweight World Champion - including legends Joe Calzaghe, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank and Carl Froch - has managed to achieve yet and that is to win a world title in America and go back to unify the belts.
Richard Maynard, owner of Maynard Communications, who previously worked for 17 years under renown Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren until his departure in May this year to create the specialist boxing PR agency, is delighted to be working with DeGale again.
Maynard said, “James is a terrific ambassador for the sport and I’m thrilled to be working with him and his team again ahead of his career defining World super-middleweight unification title fight against Jack in New York. I started with James when he turned professional following his tremendous success at the 2008 Beijing Olympics through to becoming the European Super-Middleweight Champion. To win a world title in America is an incredible achievement, but to return and unify the belts shows James’s ambition to prove that he’s not only the best super-middleweight in the world, but one of British boxing’s greats.”
DeGale said, “January 14th in New York against Jack is the biggest night of my life and it’s great to have Richard on board with Team Chunky. His wealth of knowledge and experience with the media will be a great asset to me and I look forward to working with him again. Beating Jack and unifying the IBF and WBC world titles will make me known as the best 168 pound fighter in the world. I’m in this sport to prove that I’m the best which is why I’m fighting in the United States, flying the flag for Britain, beating my rivals on their home soil and looking to create history by being the first British super-middleweight to win and unify titles in America to cement my legacy.”
The return to the ring of former WBC world cruiserweight champion Giacobbe Fragomeni is making news in Italy and fans are already looking for tickets for The Night of Kick and Punch 6 which will take place at Teatro della Luna (1,730 seats) on January 14, 2017 in Assago, close to Milan. 47 years old Fragomeni (33-5-2) will fight in the main event of the show which will also offer many kickboxing fights.
Fragomeni’s opponent has yet to be announced just like the distance (it should be 8 rounds), but that doesn’t worry the former WBC champion. “On January 14 I will be in top shape – said Giacobbe Fragomeni –. I’m inspired by Bernard Hopkins who will be back in action (after more than two years) on December 17 against WBC International light heavyweight champion Joe Smith Jr. in Los Angeles. Hopkins is almost 52 years old and he doesn’t need to prove anything to anybody as he dominated the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions for years. I assume that he wants to prove to himself that he can still do it because that’s the same thing that motivates me. If I deliver a great performance on January 14, I will have 3 or 4 fights in a very short time.”
About the toughest opponent he ever fought, Giacobbe Fragomeni has no doubts: “David Haye was an outstanding opponent who hit really hard. We fought in 2006 at York Hall in London. David was European champion and put me down in nine rounds. I wasn’t surprised when he won all the world titles available. I wasn’t surprised even when he knocked out in two rounds WBO world champion Enzo Maccarinelli. After our fight, we became friends and David was one of the firsts to congratulate me on his official website when I won the vacant WBC world title.”
“That night I was at York Hall – remembers promoter Angelo Valente – and I can say that Giacobbe performed well even if he lost. Giacobbe had the guts to trade punches with one of the most powerful hitters the cruiserweight division ever had. I wanted Giacobbe in my event because I hire only quality fighters. Kick and Punch Promotions is a trademark of accountability for Italian kickboxing fans: now they will see a former world boxing champion too. I am sure that The Night of Kick and Punch 6 will be a sellout.”
It's not an easy task to challenge the champion in his home ring, but Italian contender Manuel Lancia (14–1–1) doesn't mind. He's confident that he can claim the European Boxing Union's lightweight title anywhere – be it in Italy or Edis Tatli's (28–1–0) place of residence, Helsinki.
"We have discovered Tatli's weakness. We saw something, and we're working on it," says Lancia.
It will be a mountain to climb, though. The reigning champion Tatli is no joke, and Lancia's only defeat as a pro came against Massimilliano Ballisai, whom Tatli faced and won last March in Espoo, Finland.
That's why Lancia doesn't spare himself in his preparations. He knows this will be one of the hardest fights of his career, and he has to be in top condition to win.
"Tatli reminds me of Jean Pierre Bauwens, whom I won a year ago. Bauwens was a tough guy too," says Lancia.
"It's hard work to prepare for a title fight, but I must be in great shape to become a champion. I've boxed for 13 years, so I know what I must do to beat him. My determination is my greatest weapon."
Tatli doesn't seem to be very concerned of Lancia's talks about his weaknesses. The champion has no plans to give his title belt away.
"Everybody has weaknesses. But it's my strengths that will be too much for Lancia to handle", says Tatli.
We will see on 17th December which fighter will triumph.
Tatli vs. Lancia is part of "All In" boxing event held in Hartwall Arena, Helsinki. The event, promoted by Dominus Boxing Group, will co-feature two other championship fights, as women's WBC super featherweight champion Eva Wahlström defends her title against Anahi Esther Sanchez and super middleweight prospect Niklas Räsänen challenges Mariano Hilario for the EU title. Also in a heavyweight clash, Robert Helenius faces the experienced Gonzalo Omar Basile.
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