Eastern Europe Update!
Baysangurov defends EBU title,
Senchenko headlines in Donetsk!

March 23, 2008

By Alexey Sukachev

K2 East Promotions (former National Boxing Promotions) will be back into action tonight, Sunday 23, in Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine, with its second large show of this boxing season. In the main event, European light middleweight titlist Zaurbek Baysangurov (17-0, 12 KOs) puts his belt at stake for the first time in an optional defense versus Ukrainian contender Roman Dzuman (23-4-1, 10 KOs).

Baysangurov (WBC #8, IBF #8 and WBA #11) claimed his title last July barely outpointing French veteran Hussein Bayram. He was then scheduled to meet exciting British banger Jamie Moore in December but that fight has never taken place due to Zaur’s health issues. He was back in ring a month ago showing some rust against Romanian Gheorghe Danut on his route to unanimous decision. It’s interesting to note that while competing almost solely in Ukraine and Germany Zaurbek is a proud native of Chechen Achhoy-Martan and represents Russia in the ring. Dzuman, a tough competitor who has never been stopped inside the distance, last fought in September getting a draw against Moldavian Ivan Gontsa.

Also Ukrainian-based Georgian Avtandil Khurtsidze (13-1-2, 9 KOs) challenges Latvian Jurijs Borejko (14-10-2, 9 KOs) for the vacant EBA title on middleweight division and another K2 East promoted fighter Sergey Fedchenko (19-0, 9 KOs) is planned for a ten-round scrap versus Gari Abajian (7-4).

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On Tuesday another powerful Ukrainian promotional group Union Boxing Promotions will stage its first boxing night in 2008, which will feature a number of prospects and three title fights as well.

Unbeaten welterweight Vyacheslav Senchenko (25-0, 18 KOs), who is rated #11 by the WBA, will risk his WBA intercontinental title against almost untested Brit Stewart Ewell (11-1, 1 KO). Senchenko is rooting for a fight with the current WBA interim master Yuri Nuzhnenko in definitely one of the most wanted Ukrianian match-ups. Nuzhnenko, also unbeaten, is promoted by UBP rivals from K2 East.

WBO #5 featherweight Oleg Yefimovich (12-1, 8 KOs) will take on Spanish national champ Juan Garcia Martin (15-3-2, 8 KOs) in the third defense of his WBO intercontinental belt. One of the brightest Ukrainian talents Stanislav Kashtanov (21-0, 12 KOs), 21, is matched up with fellow unbeaten Brazil Jailson Morais da Silva for the WBC Youth title in 168lbs. Kashtanov, WBC #14, is well known across Europe while da Silva, totally untested, debuted in pro ranks only last August and never fought out of his homeland. Also scheduled to see action are former contenders Andrey Kudriavtsev (25-4, 10 KOs) and Stanislav Merdov (22-5-1, 16 KOs) and three young prospects.

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Creation of a new Russian promotional group, Ural Box Promotions, will be announced today in Chelyabinsk, Ural Mountains, Russia. Ural Box Promotions, though a rookie, is planning to become a force to be reckoned with in Russian boxing. Its distant goal is to become a nursery for future Russian champions and to reach promotional elite.

Well-known national coaches Gennady Savin and Wladimir Kushnir will be in the head of a training work for the fighters signed. No owners and investors are disclosed yet; this point will be made on Sunday in Chelyabinsk restaurant “Markstadt”. A number of influential personae and famous members of Russian boxing community are scheduled to attend the party.

This announcement will be accompanied with a boxing show, featuring six bouts in different weight classes. The star of the evening WBA #2 cruiserweight and former WBA interim champion Valery Brudov (34-2, 25 KOs) will go eight rounds with Cameroonian Martial Bella Oleme (8-16-1, 1 KO) in a tune-up fight.