European heavyweights

Charles Martel

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Two promising European heavyweights are in action this coming Friday:

Ondrej Pala, (22-2, 18 KO, age 24) will be fighting Konstantin Airich (11-1-1, 9 KO, age 30)

Steffen Kretschmann (13-0, 12 KO, age 28) will be fighting fringe contender Denis Bakhtov (28-5, 18 KO, age 29)

Cruiserweight Grigory Drozd (31-1, 23 KO, age 29) will fight Valery Volozhenin (12-0-1, 6 KO, age 28)

I think Pala may have some potential. His two losses came when he was very young, fighting quality opponents, namely Denis Boytsov and Rene Dettweiler. And I have high hopes for Kretschmann, who has a good combination of technical skill and punching power.
 

Blue Devils

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Pala and Airich I'm not too familiar with.

I heard Grigory Drozd left Universum Promotions and signed with Ahmet Oner. Just a rumor but that would explain why he's on this card. Oner while being a shady promoter will deliver big fights for Grigory. Maybe a title shot at WBA champ Guillermo Jones.

Kretschmann is fighting a capable journeyman in Bakhtov who is on a four fight win streak. A stoppage win over Bakhtov would be very impressive for Kretschmann. A 6'5 southpaw with knockout power is a rare find in the heavyweight division.



Edited by: Blue Devils
 

j41181

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JD1986 said:
Ondrej Pala, (22-2, 18 KO, age 24) will be fighting Konstantin Airich (11-1-1, 9 KO, age 30)
This guy looks promising! I'm for those who are young but seasoned. Age 24, and already 24 fights under him. Give him 5-15 more fights, and he's in line for a title shot.
 

whiteathlete33

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Grigory Drozd might be the best cruiserweight after Adamek. His only loss is to Firat Arslan who is a great fighter himself. Anyone know if he will be up for an eliminator soon?Edited by: whiteathlete33
 

Charles Martel

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Today Ondrej Pala defeated Konstantin Airich by MD. Observers thought it should have been a clear UD. Pala had Airich hurt in the last round.

Pala defeats Airich

Konstantin Airich was the Danny Williams opponent involved in the infamous incident last year when the crooked promoter Ahmet Oner rang the bell himself to end a round.

Pala (23-2, 18 KO) has several wins over decent opponents now: Henry Akinwande, Konstantin Airich, Harry Duiven Jr., and Arthur Cook. Soon he'll be ranked by a sanctioning organization - his next opponent may possibly be a fringe contender.

I wish they'd have Pala on an ESPN card with Oner's other prospects like Gamboa, Solis, and Lara - but I know it is unlikely to happen, because Pala's skin is the wrong color in the eyes of ESPN's Jewish management.
 

j41181

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Good win by Pala though, it still should boost his stock and put him in line for any potential title shot. Give him about 3-4 more years.

That's the 500th post for me!!!
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Edited by: j41181
 

Blue Devils

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The Kretschmann-Bakhtov match has been rescheduled for May.

Grigory Drozd also didn't appear on the card. His manager/promoter said he's in LA sparring and that Steve Cunningham turned down a fight with Drozd in favor of Braithwaite.Edited by: Blue Devils
 

Blue Devils

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Russian Heavyweight Andrey Fedosov 19-1(15) fights this Friday in California. His opponent is Galen Brown 32-11-1(19).
 

Blue Devils

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Ondrej Pala won his fight by decision. He improves to 24-2(18).

Andrey Fedosov knocked out Galen Brown in the second round.

Ukrainian Heavyweight Oleg Platov 27-1(22) is scheduled to return on the Abraham-Oral undercard June 27. Opponent TBA.
 

Blue Devils

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Heavyweight Magomed Abdusalamov 5-0(5) added another first-round kayo to his resume with a quick demolition of Uzbek Sherzod Mamajanov 6-9(2).
 

Blue Devils

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Oleg Platov is scheduled to return Sept 19 against Cengiz Koc 24-3(15).

On the same card Francesco Pianeta faces off against former world title challenger Matt Skelton 22-3(19).
 

Charles Martel

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Blue Devils said:
Oleg Platov is scheduled to return Sept 19 against Cengiz Koc 24-3(15).

On the same card Francesco Pianeta faces off against former world title challenger Matt Skelton 22-3(19).

I hope I can find a stream to watch these fights!
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Blue Devils

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Canadian champion Grzegorz Kielsa 10-0(5) faces Kevin Montiy 17-6-1(13) tonight in Toronto. Kielsa is originally from Poland.
 

Charles Martel

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Blue Devils said:
Canadian champion Grzegorz Kielsa 10-0(5) faces Kevin Montiy 17-6-1(13) tonight in Toronto. Kielsa is originally from Poland.

So Montiy quit after two rounds, claiming he couldn't see after a cut caused by a headbutt. It was ruled a no contest. But from what I understand the cut wasn't bad and perhaps Montiy just wanted a way out of a fight he was losing.
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Blue Devils

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Steffen Kretschmann & Konstantin Airich fought in Spain Friday night.

Kretschmann stopped Ergin Solmaz in 4. His record improves to 14-1(13).

Airich stopped Yuri Lunev in 1. His record improves to 12-2-1(10).
 

Charles Martel

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Ondrej Pala (24-2), who turned 25 yesterday, is fighting this Wednesday Sep 23, but it's just a stay-active bout against a clubfighter. He's also scheduled to fight a somewhat better journeyman, Marcus Zeller, on Oct 30.

Pala is underrated. His loss to Rene Dettweiler was controversial, and he gave Denis Boytsov his toughest fight to date. I'm hoping he'll step up soon.

Ondrej Pala
 

Blue Devils

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From Fightnews

Magomed Abdusalamov, 28-year-old Russian heavyweight champion (5-0, 5 KOs) of the Yuri Fedorov Sports Lab. company will fight on the undercard of Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Arreola WBC heavyweight championship this Saturday, 26 September in Staples Center in Los Angeles. The two-time Russian heavyweight champion will take on the more experienced Mexican Alvaro Morales (3-6-5). Abdusalamov who has won all of his 5 professional fights by KO in the opening round is now coached by John David Jackson.
 

Charles Martel

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Today, up-and-comer Sebastian Koeber won a SD over Marcus Tomala. I was surprised to see Universum put Tomala at 6-0 in with an 18-0 fighter.

Heavyweight Manuel Charr is Semitic so perhaps not really white, but it was nice to see he defeated another black opponent, Sherman Williams, by UD. Charr had previously stopped Nigerian heavyweight up-and-comer Gbenga Oloukun.

from fightnews.com:

Hot heavyweight prospect Sebastian Köber (19-0, 13 KOs) won a ten round split decision against Markus Tomala (6-1, 3 KOs) in a battle of unbeatens for the interim German heavyweight championship. Scores were 96-94, 97-93 for Köber, 96-94 for Tomala.

Unbeaten heavyweight Manuel Charr (13-0, 6 KOs) took a ten round unanimous decision over veteran Sherman "Tank"Â￾ Williams (34-11-2, 19 KOs) by scores of 98-94, 99-91, 97-93.

Highly regarded 2008 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist Rakhim Chakhkiev knocked out Tayar Mehmed in round two. It was Chakhkiev's pro debut.
 
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