Euro contenders in action!

May 14, 2008

By Enrico "Erik" Crociati

The Italian boxing organization OPI 2000 headed by Salvatore and Cristian Cherchi will stage a terrific show on Friday, May 16 at The Pala Ruffini in Torino, Italy, with a six-fight card.

In the main event of the night, British Colin Lynes (31-3, 12 KOs) will make the second defense of his European light welterweight title. Lynes won the belt last year and will now take on dangerous contender and former world challenger, Gianluca Branco (40-2-1, 21 KOs).

Lynes, hailing from London, is a real 'steel-man' and is probably at the peak of his career, following his title winning effort versus vicious hitter Young Muttley. The mandatory challenger, the 37-year-old Branco is extremely popular in Italy, due to his great boxing skills and is a veteran of three European title fights and challenged Arturo Gatti and Miguel Angel Cotto for world titles. All in all, an exciting matchup between two hard and strong battlers to mark on the calendar.

In the chief support, former Euro titlist, heavyweight Paolo Vidoz (24-4, 13 KOs) comes back into the ring in a tough test versus British warrior Matthew Ellis (19-5-1, 9 KOs) and everlasting italian boxing superstar Michele Piccirillo (48-4, 30 KOs) will return to action, fighting Czech southpaw Patrick Hruska (10-30, 3 KOs). It will be the first fight for Piccirillo after his technical knock-out loss against Vernon Forrest in a WBC title challenge in Mashantucket, CT, this past December.

Also in action, Union European titleholder at 140 Lbs, Giuseppe 'The End' Lauri (45 -6, 26 KOs) tests his condition with Slovakian journeyman Ratislav Kovac (26-12-1, 9 KOs).

In a special attraction of the evening, Salvatore Cherchi will introduce to the Italian fans one of the world's top fighter at light welterweight, Tunisian Naoufel Ben Rabah (24-3, 13 KOs).

Former world contender Ben Rabah has made his name in the boxing world with his brawling style, his big punch and his 'take-no-prisoners' attitude. His opponent in Torino will be Hungarian Laszlo Komjathi (28-18-1, 11 KOs).

Finally, one of the rising stars of British boxing, featherweight, Belfast born Martin Lindsay (11-0, 4 KOs), will be featured in a six rounder versus British veteran contender Marc Callaghan (19-12-1, 4 KOs).

Mediaset Italia 1 will broadcast in Italy, with Sky Sports televising in the United Kingdom.