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December 18 marks an important
day for the World Boxing
Federation as two highly
important world titles will be
contested in Europe, albeit in
different countries, on this
same day with so far undefeated
co-challengers looking to
justify their status of
favourites.
Firstly, current WBF
International champion Tamas
‘Kid’ Kovacs steps up to
face Kenya’s former Commonwealth
title challenger Samson
Onyango, 19-4 (12 KO’s), for
the vacant WBF world
lightheavyweight crown in his
hometown of Galanta, Slovakia,
near the Hungarian border. The
32-year-old Kovacs defended his
International belt as recently
as last October and sports an
unblemished record of 14-0 (10
KO’s). If successful, Kovacs
would write history as
Slovakia’s first-ever world
champion in professional boxing.
Over in Russia, the female world
heavyweight title will find an
owner when Natascha Ragosina
clashes with Guyanese girl
Pamela London, 6-3-1 (1
KO), over 10 rounds in
Ekaterinburg. Curiously, it will
mark the first ring appearance
of female superstar Ragosina in
her home country, after fighting
all her career in Germany – with
stunning success.
Ragosina has perfect statistics
with her record standing at 21-0
(12 KO’s) and since her debut
five years ago completely
cleaned up the supermiddleweight
division. Featuring in 13 world
title bouts so far at her old
weight, 33-year-old Natascha won
an unprecedented eight title
belts. The only remaining
challenge at supermiddle would
have been a match with Laila
Ali, but since that is not
happening, Ragosina has done the
next best thing: Step up not one
but two division to win the
ultimate price.
“I’m delighted that action in
Europe is picking up,” said WBF
European Coordinator Olaf
Schroeder, “it shows that people
appreciate the ways of the World
Boxing Federation and are not
deluded by cheap talk.” |
