By Jim Dower: Heavyweight Robert Helenius (28-2, 17 KOs) used his left-hand punching power to … continue
By Jim Dower: IBF super middleweight champion Jose Uzcategui (27-2, 23 KOs) needs a new … continue
By Jim Dower: Alexander Dimitrenko (40-3, 26 KOs) pulled off a big upset last Saturday night in destroying unbeaten IBF International heavyweight champion Adrian Granat (14-1, 13 KOs) in the 1st round in their fight at the Baltiska Hallen, in Malmo, Sweden. The 6’7” Dimitrenko knocked the 25-year-old Granat down twice in the 1st round before the fight was halted by referee Timo Habighorst. The official time of the stoppage was at 2:07 of round one.
By Jim Dower: In a huge upset, heavyweight Christian Hammer (20-4, 11 KOs) defeated previously unbeaten #14 WBO Erkan Teper (16-1, 10 KOs) by a 12 round split decision to capture the vacant World Boxing Organization European heavyweight title on Saturday night at the G 18-Halle in Hamburg, Germany.
By Jim Dower: Making his first appearance inside the ring last year in July 2015, former EBU heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (16-0, 10 KOs) had a remarkably easy time on Sunday night in defeating American journeyman Derric Rossy (30-12, 14 KOs) by a one-sided 10 round unanimous decision at the Gellersenhalle in Lüneburg, Germany.
Teper, 34, looked heavier and not as well conditioned as he had in his previous fight against David Price last July. However, the 6’5” Teper’s punching power, hand speed, and explosive attacks were still very much present tonight against Rossy. The judges scored the fight 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
By Tim Fletcher: Unbeaten #9 WBC heavyweight contender Erkan Teper (15-0, 10 KOs) has reportedly suffered an arm injury, according to Fight News. The injury is bad enough to where Teper’s scheduled December 19th fight this month against the 6’6″ Robert Helenius (21-0, 13 KOs) is now off for the Hartwall Arena, Helsinki.
The 33-year-old Teper’s arm injury will require surgery to repair the problem. Needless to say, this is really disappointing for boxing fans, because the Teper vs. Helenius fight would have been a good one. The winner of the Teper-Helenius fight would have been pushed up the heavyweight rankings to be in position for a world title fight in the near future.
By Tim Fletcher: EBU heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (15-0, 10 KOs) will be making a dangerous title defense on December 19th against the unbeaten 6’6” Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius (21-0, 13 KOs), according to Fight News, in a bout at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.
Helenius, 31, has lost the high ranking that he once had in 2013 due to inactivity. Helenius didn’t fight from March 2013 to March 2015 due to promotional issues. He finally came back in March of this year and has beaten Andras Csomor and Beqa Lobjanidze.
By Scott Gilfoid: Despite still not having fought anyone remotely talented since he turned pro in 2013, unbeaten #2 WBC heavyweight contender Anthony Joshua (14-0, 14 KOs) believes he’s going to defeat unbeaten Dillian Whyte (16-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant British heavyweight title on December 13th, and then beat EBU heavyweight champion Erkan Teper in early 2016, and then face either WBC champion Deontay Wilder or Wladimir Klitschko for a world title by the summer next year.
Joshua is coming off of a 1st round knockout of Gary Cornish (21-1, 12 KOs) last Saturday night to win the vacant Commonwealth heavyweight title at the O2 Arena in London, England. Joshua, 25, knocked the 6’7”, 256lb Cornish down twice in the round before referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest at 1:37 of the round.
By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweight talent Dillian Whyte (15-0, 12 KOs) says he’d like to face unbeaten Lucas Browne (22-0, 19 KOs) or EBU heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (15-0, 10 KOs) for his next fight a month from now on September 12th at the O2 Arena in London, UK. Whyte, 6’4”, 250lbs, needs a good test to get him ready for his fight in December against unbeaten Anthony Joshua (13-0, 13 KOs) in London.
Whyte doesn’t want a soft job for his next fight because he needs someone who can give him some rounds like Browne or Teper.
“I would love to fight Browne on the 12th of next month be a good fight,” Whyte said on his Twitter.
By Scott Gilfoid: Former world title challenger Dereck Chisora (21-5, 14 KOs) says he wants to fight for the EBU heavyweight title next September against European Boxing Union heavyweight champion Erkan Teper (15-0, 10 KOs) if he can get the fight with him. Chisora would in effect be avenging, or at least, attempting to avenge the defeat of fellow Brit David Price, who was trounced by Teper in two rounds a little over a week ago in Germany.
Certainly fighting for the EBU title at Chisora’s age has to be seen as a backwards career move. I mean, I can’t imagine a fighter who was recently ranked No.1 by the World Boxing Organization last November going backwards to fight for an EBU title rather than moving his career forward to try and get fights against top 10 talents.