Dimitrenko-Krasniqi Bout Canceled

In the latest boxing news, undefeated German-based heavyweight contender Alexander Dimitrenko (27-0, 17 KOs) has reportedly backed out of a previously scheduled bout with his fellow Universum promotions stablemate Luan Krasniqi (30-3-1, 14 KOs), which was to have taken place on March 8th in Germany. Dimitrenko, 25, ranked #2 in the World Boxing Organization, #5 in the WBC, #8 in the IBF and #10 in the WBA, is friends with Krasniqi, whom he regularly trains side by side with in the Universum gym.

Perhaps for that reason, Dimitrenko couldn’t carry out the fight. However, Dimitrenko didn’t give a reason for not wanting to fight Krasniqi, so we’re left to try and read between the lines and figure it out for ourselves until when, and if, he makes a public statement on the reasons for the pullout. To be sure, both fighters are going in different directions at this point in their careers. At 36, Krasniqi is on his way down, having lost two out of his last four fights, both losses resulting in knockouts at the hands of Lamon Brewster and most recently against Tony Thompson. Krasniqi looked like a shell of himself against Thompson, seeming as if he just gave up trying after the first few rounds of the fight.

All of the current champions have bouts coming up against quality opponents, and Klitschko has a unification bout with WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov. Following that, Klitschko, if he wins, is scheduled to fight the winner of the IBF tournament, which has come down to Eddie Chambers vs. Alexander Povetkin. After that, Dimitrenko would seem like the ideal opponent. However, Dimitrenko, as I mentioned earlier, should try and knock off the #1 ranked Thompson first, so that he’ll be next in line. It’s doubtful Thompson would want to face him, but if Universum offers him enough money, he’d probably go for the offer.

With his height - 6′7″ - and reach, I see Dimitrenko dominating Thompson and possibly knocking him out. Of the top heavyweight challenger, only Povetkin would give Dimitrenko any problems, but I see him as being too small to deal with Dimitrenko’s reach advantage. Of the heavyweights, Dimitrenko and Klitschko are the most athletic of the bunch, with a tremendous amount of skills.