European Heavyweight Title - Good Fights Coming?

[Autobarn]

recently there have been vacant title fights, in which the likes of sosnowski, audley and now dimitrenko have won the belt.

there could be some really interesting fights coming up.

dimitrenko beat some replacement the other weekend. there are rumours that he may fight tomasz adamek, a former WBC champ at 175 and IBF/Ring mag champ at 200.

this would be one hell of a european title fight, if anything comes of it. however, a fight like that probably wouldn't go ahead unless it was given blessing by a sanctioning body (probably WB) as an eliminator fight. as such, the european title could gte vacated.

then, there would be a chance of sosnowski v audley, a fight which sosnowski pulled out of in order to put up a bold challenge to vitali klitschko.

either fight would be truly fascinating. if they both happened, we could see some heavyweight drama.

[jameswilson]

The guys at the very top of the European ratings have always been very good, it's just been a case that they have had World title aspirations that has meant they don't bother with the European belt. I'm pretty sure at the moment that Povetkin, Adamek, Valuev make up the top 3 (with Audley put in as the mandatory challenger thus not ranked.) It's surely only a matter of time before one of these guys goes for it, or a European champ ends up ranked so highly that one of the bodies says ok we will sanction fighter x vs Povetkin/Adamek/Valuev as a final eliminator for our belt.

There is a potential in the coming years for some good European title fights, either very high level (Dimitrenko vs Adamek) or intriguingly matched (Sosnowski vs Dimitrenko, Sosnowski vs (Sexton v Chisora winner) for example.) The belt needs it too as to be honest since Luan Krasniqui and the Prime Paolo Vidoz were fighting for it I can't think of too many good European title fights.

[Autobarn]

yes, sosnowski v dimitrenko is definitely another. if dimitrenko doesn't fight adamek, and after sosnowski's made his september comeback, then that's a potential matchup. that would be a good fight.

obviously the dimitrenkos and adameks are aspiring to the world titles, so they won't fight each other for less than a WBA (i'd think) eliminator. if they did fight for such an elim, could they also compete for the EBU title, or would it gte vacated?

also, if sosnowski did fight dimitreno and beat him, i think it's possible sosnowski would take on adamek, as there'd be something to gain for each man it'd be a genuine match between two top 10 heavies (provided sosnowski has beaten dimitrenko) and it'd also be massive in poland, and could sell well in the states (at somewhere like newark, NJ).

[oliverfennell]

The guys at the very top of the European ratings have always been very good, it's just been a case that they have had World title aspirations that has meant they don't bother with the European belt.

Povetkin may as well go for it now since he has shown no intention of fighting for a world title, despite several opportunities.

[funso banjo baby]

like the british title, the euro is one that has very little cred. I think you get a world ranking with someone but it never has the best in europe holding it...is either a stepping stone or is avoided completely.

plus the ebu are probably the most crooked...and the ratings are silly

[Autobarn]

a guy like audley, sosnowski or dimitrenko could make a nice living defending the european title. it's the heavyweights, after all.

doubt povetkin goes for the EBU. an olympic gold medallist with a TV contract - the EBU will be beneath him. he obviously isn't ready for wlad but if one of the K2s falters, loses their title, all the financial muscle behind him - sauerland, german TV - will be flexed to get him his opportunity.

[Autobarn]

audley has been put forward as dimitrenko's madnatory for the EBU heavyweight title.

can't see audley travelling for that fight.

if there's any substance to adamek-dimitrenko rumours, let's see if dimitrenko vacates title for poss world title elim v adamek.

hope so. then you'd think it's audley and sosnowski, a fine fight in itself. the poles will win both of these fights, as they are harder and want it more and will ovecome size disadvantages.

[jameswilson]

With the Haye v Audley fight not signed I was amazed Audley Vacated it. He didn't vacate it due to injury, the press release he made makes it quite clear he vacates it to seek World title ambitions. Plus I'm sure the EBU sets 9 month periods minimum between Mandatory defences meaning he would have plenty of time to recover from his injury.

I'v always been on the opinion that the European is actually a good belt for the British guys to get a hold of. Top 15 ranking with the WBC, guranteed fights at European level means after 2 or 3 defences you are usually rated very highly by the WBC. Witter and Eastman both got their mandatory spots through the European belt. It may have taken them a while to get the shot at the belt but hey, they are 2 unfashionable names who've gained from holding the European belt.

On the WBA eliminator issue I don't think the WBA would sanction an EBU title fight as an eliminator for their belt as they have gone and created their own version of the European belt which is held by Alexander Ustinov. Hopefully this doesn't lead to multiple people claiming to be European champion.

[moorser]

would love to see rogan - sosnowski down the line for this belt would be a real tear up

[Autobarn]

would love to see rogan - sosnowski down the line for this belt would be a real tear up

absolutely. two very entertaining smaller heavyweights. rogan is always interesting. sosnowski conducted himself very well vs vitali and is a good high output euro level heavyweight.

[Autobarn]

do you have to have fought half of your last 10 fights in europe, to fight for the EBU title - is this true?

that would rule adamek out of the EBU title, a belt which likely doesn't offer enough for him and dimitrenko to get it on.

[jameswilson]

do you have to have fought half of your last 10 fights in europe, to fight for the EBU title - is this true?

that would rule adamek out of the EBU title, a belt which likely doesn't offer enough for him and dimitrenko to get it on.

I can't say I have ever heard that rule. I'd be very suprised that the EBU would rank someone not eligible to fight for their title.

[Autobarn]

is he definitely ranked?

[jameswilson]

is he definitely ranked?

Your right, he isn't ranked and checking the rules it states : -

'To be eligible to take part in a contest for a European Championship a Boxer must :

3.1. be at least 18 years of age ; and

3.2. be domiciled and a national of a European Country ; and

3.3. have boxed at least five of his last ten fights in Europe.

3.4. be licensed by an Affiliated National Association ; and

3.5. be approved by the E.B.U. Council.

3.6. not holding any World Title of any Federation.'




One thing I did notice the other day which I found unusual in the rankings was they point out who is ineligible due to holding a World title and list David Haye but don't list the Klitschkos. They both fight primarily out of Germany and I'm sure they live in Europe, so I'm unsure how they don't make it into the rankings on the 'ineligible due to holding a World title' list.

[IRLangmaid25]

Down the line up you could have the winner of Derek Chisora and Sam Sexton's British and Commonwealth clash at the LG Arena on September 18th who will be angling for a shot for the European Crown as well but then again you could have Tyson Fury as well as he will be having first crack of the winner of Chisora-Sexton as he has got mandatory for the British crown. I do agree that Albert Sosnoswki wiill be looking to for a shot at his former title that he vacated to have his world title shot at Vitali K. So you are going to have some interesting match ups in the next couple of months.

[Autobarn]

i reckon it'll probably end up sosnowski v audley, unless dimitrenko keeps the belt, and i don't think he will.

maybe dimitrenko defends vs denis bakhtov, gets a bit of confidence, but i doubt he keeps it for long.

sosnowski is coming back next month, isn't he?