Fight fans can look forward to a real stacked up card on August 24. With European Light Heavyweight Champion Juergen Braehmer defending his title (against Stefano Abatangelo) and super-middleweight contender Arthur Abraham (against Willbeforce Shihepo) trying to get in position for another world title shot, the show is already loaded with highlights. Now the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin will also play host to a special heavyweight attraction. Kubrat Pulev (17-0, 9 KO´s) and Tony Thompson (38-3, 26 KO´s) will fight it out in an IBF final eliminator with the winner to challenge for the world title.
Pulev, maybe the most avoided heavyweight in recent times, cannot wait to step into the ring again. In 2012, the current IBF International and European Champion made it to the top of the rankings, beating Michael Sprott, Alexander Dimitrenko as well as Alexander Ustinov – all of them inside the distance. But as fighters like Tomasz Adamek, Tyson Fury and Ruslan Chagaev refused to be matched with the 32-year-old Bulgarian, his career came to a brief halt at the start of 2013.
“It seemed nearly impossible to find an opponent for Kubrat,” said Chris Meyer, general manager of Sauerland Event. “But thanks to Tony Thompson, that’s old news. The winner of Pulev vs. Thompson will be the new IBF mandatory challenger.”
Thompson will be the toughest test of Pulev’s career to date. The 41-year-old is not only a southpaw but he has also fought Wladimir Klitschko twice. That gives him an edge in experience over the man from Sofia. He recently shattered the dreams of British hopeful David Price, knocking him out on February 23 and July 6. Still, Pulev is optimistic to come out as a winner against the American: “If I want to fight for the world championship, I have to beat Thompson. That’s exactly what I will do on August 24!”
Tickets for the big fight night at the Sport- und Kongresshalle Schwerin, Germany are available at www.eventim.de.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
