The World Boxing Federation has had an active and busy 2011, and one would think that at least during the Christmas holidays things would slow down.
But not so, as the WBF is sanctioning two international title fights on December 24 in Belgrade, Serbia. On a show promoted by Zoran Andjic, German International Champion Uensal Arik (7-1, 7 KOs) will face his biggest test so far when he takes on Turkish-born veteran Turgay Uzun (37-18-2, 24 KOs) for the vacant WBF International Super Middleweight title.
While this will only be the second title fight of Arik’s career, Uzun, a former German International title-holder himself, has been part of twelve championship bouts so far. However, all his victories so far being by stoppage, Arik will be looking to neutralize the experience advantage of Uzun with his significant punching-power.
In the second WBF title fight on the card, and the main event, local hero Nenad Stankovic (13-12-1, 9 KOs) squares off with Germanys Jonathan Pasi (22-23-2, 8 KOs) for the vacant International Cruiserweight crown.
This will be a clash of unusual title-challengers, as both started out as clear-cut journeymen before turning their careers around. Although winning a Yugoslavian title in the process, Stankovic went 4-12-1 in his first seventeen fights before taking a six-year break. Since his return in 2007 he has won nine straight, eight of them inside the distance.
Jonathan Pasi was 3-17-2 after his first twenty-two professional starts, but has since gone 19-6 with his losses coming against very good opposition. His last two bouts were at Heavyweight where he lost to notables Alexander Kahl and Timo Hoffmann, but back in a more suitable weight class, Cruiserweight, he expects to continue his good form against Stankovic.
www.worldboxingfederation.net
