By Sean McDaniel: European Boxing Union (EBU) heavyweight champion Alexander Dimitrenko (31-1, 21 KO’s) will be making his second defense of his title on September 24th against Britain’s Michael Sprott (36-8, 16 KO’s) at the Dima Sportcenter, Lohbruegge, in Hamburg, Germany.

Dimitrenko stopped Alberto Sosnowski in the 12th round in his last fight in March in a bout that was close until Dimitrenko knocked Sosnowski out with an uppercut.

Sprott, 36, is coming off of a three round split decision defeat at the hands of Tye Fields in May in the heavyweight Prizefighter tourney. Sprott has had mixed results in the past four years, stopping Audley Harrison in the 3rd round to capture the vacant BBBofC English heavyweight title in 2007. However, Sprott has been beaten by Matt Skelton, Taras Bydenko, Lamon Brewster, Alexander Ustinov, Harrison and Fields since then. He did beat Skelton in a rematch in October 2010.

Dimitrenko, 29, was on course previously for a title shot but was beaten by Eddie Chambers by a disappointing 12 round decision in July 2009. Dimitrenko fought poorly in that fight and was lucky not to get knocked out. Dimitrenko has won his last two fights since then, beating Yaroslav Zavorotnyi by a 5th round TKO in July 2010 and then stopping Sosnowski in March. Dimitrenko is ranked #7 WBO, #9 IBF, #5 WBC, #6 WBA. If he can continue picking up wins, Dimitrenko should get a title shot at some point in the future. However, he’s got to look good and pick up some quality victories to convince boxing fans that he’s a real threat to the Klitschkos. Right now he’d be lucky if he could get by Chambers in a rematch.