Undefeated IBF middleweight champion King Arthur Abraham celebrated another prestigious success this week when he was voted “Boxer of the Year” for the third straight time. The readers of Germany´s BoxSport magazine as well as a panel of established boxing experts elected the 28-year-old ahead of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. “That is a great honour for me,” King Arthur said. “I am very happy about the fans´ and the experts´ verdict. We have worked very hard to be successful and I want to thank my coach as well as my team for their great support. Without their help I would not have achieved anything.”

King Arthur made three successful appearances in 2008. In March, he stopped Elvin Ayala in the 12th round before dusting long-time foe Edison Miranda in the fourth round of his America debut in June. In November, he then put aside mandatory challenger Raul Marquez, who retired after the sixth round.

2008 was a successful year for Ulli Wegner, too, with the 66-year-old being voted “Coach of the Year” for the sixth straight time, sharing this year´s honours with Fritz Sdunek. Wegner not only led King Arthur to international stardom but also guided cruiserweight Marco “Captain” Huck and super-middleweight Karo Murat to European titles. Heavyweight Francesco Pianeta and cruiserweight Alexander Frenkel also clinched world youth titles.

OPEN LETTER FROM WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION MIKKEL KESSLER

First, I would like to wish Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my fans, indeed to all boxing fans around the globe. Here’s to a great 2009 with peace and prosperity for one and all.

My purpose is to let my fan s and all boxing fans around the world know my past and curre nt boxing agenda.

I went from Denmark to America THREE TIMES in 2008 trying to drum up a big fight. I attended the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch, the Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe fight and the Roy Jones-Calzaghe bout. I enjoy both Las Vegas and New York but those were business trips. My dream is to fight big fights in the United States against the best of the best.

Bernard Hopkins. Joe Calzaghe. Chad Dawson. Winky Wright. Jermain Taylor. Kelly Pavlik.

Six great fighters, no doubt. And, starting with ring legend Hopkins, six fighters who all refused to seriously discuss fighting me this past year. I respect all of them as boxers and gr eat competitors but, for some reason, I can’t get any of t hem to fight me.

Now I know some people say I’ve been hiding in Europe and not fighting the big names. That’s not fair and that’s not true. I regained my WBA title, which is important to me, against unbeaten Dimitri Sartison and then fought a required mandatory against Danillo Haussler. I didn’t make Haussler the mandatory challenger but I did cut him down in three rounds.

Naturally, I am extremely frustrated as I seek bigger game. I am hoping that 2009 will be different, that I will be able to match my skills in America against the likes of the Big Six.

I’m not here to call anyone names or issue childish insults. That’s not the Viking Warrior’s style, people know that.

But Hopkins says he doesn’t want to hear my name although I’d gladly fight him at 168 pounds for my title or at a catch weight.

Calzaghe beat me on points in an excellent fight and has been consistent in saying he will never give me a second chance. He’s a great one but I wish he’d change his mind. He said he never gives rematches yet he gave one to Mario Veit. It was Joe who suggested I fight Hopkins. I agree but Bernard doesn’t like the idea.

Unbeaten Dawson is young and unbeaten. I would fight him at super middleweight or at a catch weight but he and/or his handlers are not interested.

As for Winky, I’ve been hearing his name all year, from January to December, but itE2s clear he also wants no part of me.

Taylor will never fight me according to his guy, Lou DiBella. I’ve given up on getting Jermain in the ring.

Though he lost to Hopkins, Pavlik is still an excellent, rugged champion. He calls me a real beast and I say the same about him. That’s a bout I would really get excited about but it seems unlikely.

I’m not a guy to shout from the rooftops but everythi ng I’ve said here is factual.

I just hope I can fill up my 2009 dance card with some or any of these reluctant but great warriors as listed above.

Thanks again to all the fans, in Denmark and elsewhere, who give me such great support. Know that I appreciate it greatly!

MIKKEL KESSLER

AMATEUR BOXING SHOW FROM GLEASON’S GYM, THIS SATURDAY– DECEMBER 20, 2008 TO BE WEB CASTED LIVE ON WWW.GOFIGHTLIVE.TV

Gleason’s Gym will have a club show this Saturday December 20th. All bouts are pre-matched by New York’s finest matchmaker, Angela Querol. Masters, Juniors and Seniors are all competing.

The action will be web casted live on www.gofightlive.tv at 7:00 PM FREE OF CHARGE

See some of the finest up and coming talent in the world and you can say you saw the stars of tomorrow compete before the hit the pro circuit.

“It’s a very exciting show” said owner of the famed Gleason’s Gym, Bruce Silverglade

“t is one of the last tune-up fights for a lot of these fighters before the Golden Gloves and there is a lot of great talent. There will also be some Junior’s and Masters and we expect a big crowd to watch all the fights that will be taking place in two rings simultaneously.”

“This is a great opportunity for people to watch great up and coming talent and the people at Gleason’s have been great to us at gofightlive.tv and hopefully some of these fighters will eventually appear on www.gofightlive.tv when they turn professional.” said www.gofightlive.tv vice-president, David Klarman.

VIDOZ Vs SKELTON LIVE ONLINE FREE

On Friday, 19 December, OPI 2000 will stage a terrific show in Milan. At historic Palalido (3,500 seats) three Euro crown will be on the line: Paolo Vidoz will challenge Matt Skelton for the vacant European heavyweight
title, Euro super lightweight champion Gianluca Branco will defend against Juho Tolppola and European Union super lightweight champion Giuseppe Lauri will face unbeaten Ville Piispanen. The EUROPEAN BOXING
NIGHT will be broadcast in live streaming worldwide on the channel BOXE NOW WBC of the tv platform Streamit.

BOXE NOW WBC is the new channel of OPI 2000 headed by Salvatore e Christian Cherchi, which aims to
become the international reference point for all boxing lovers, with live streaming. Streamit.it – the TV ReWWWolution – is the first worldwide free television that broadcasts on Internet by streaming, in high definition and total full screen, with no need of decoder. The show will be broadcast FOR FREE all over the world by Streamit.it – The High Definition Web Tv, starting at 8:00 P.M. Italian-time (2:00 P.M. Eastern-time in the United States).

Starting now and until Friday, 19, Streamit.it will broadcast for free Giacobbe Fragomeni’s WBC world cruiserweight title win over Rudolf Kraj. The fight took place on October 24, in Milan. Go to the menu – free on demand and click on the fight. It was a fantastic brawl.