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In another interesting World
Boxing Federation World title
fight, Poland’s Aleksy Kuziemski
(22-3) will take on Congo-born
Frenchman Doudou Ngumbu (27-3)
this Saturday, November 26, for
the vacant Light Heavyweight
crown in his hometown of
Bialystok.
Kuziemski is entering his third
world championship fight, coming
up short in WBO challenges
against Juergen Braehmer in 2009
and against Nathan Cleverly in a
last-minute assignment in London
this past May. This time he will
have had ample time to prepare,
and is coming off a tune-up
victory in August.
Besides an impressive amateur
career that saw him win bronze
at both the World and European
Championships and compete in the
2004 Olympics, the 34-year-old
Pole has plenty of title fight
experience.
On top of his two previous world
championship bouts, he is a
former WBO Intercontinental,
German International and
European Boxing Association
champion.
Born in Kinshasa in the
Democratic Republic of the
Congo, once known as Zaire and
home of the legendary “Rumble in
the Jungle” Ali vs. Foreman
fight, Doudou Ngumbu turned
professional in his adopted home
country of France in 2007.
Going abroad to fight Kuziemski
is nothing new to Ngumba. In
2008 he travelled to Russia to
beat local star Seifudin
Barakhoev for the WBC
International title, and, after
adding the African Boxing Union
championship the following year,
he lost a close decision Isaac
Chilemba in South Africa.
In fact, all of his three losses
have been close and in his
opponent’s backyard. After the
Chilemba-setback, Ngumbu got the
wrong end of a majority decision
in Germany against undefeated
Igor Mikhalkin, and just a few
months ago, after regaining the
ABU title, a split decision
didn’t come out in his favor
after a close scrap with another
Pole, Pawel Glazewski.
Like Kuziemski, Ngumbu won his
last outing. In late October he
decisioned Adel Belhachemi in a
non-title fight, and he is
definitely planning to make the
most of his first world
title-opportunity on Saturday.
On the same night in Saint Maur,
France another local hero will
challenge for a WBF title, as
Loic Foure (16-8-2) faces
Germanys Stefan Worth (12-1-1)
for the vacant International
strap at welterweight.
Foure, a former French
title-challenger, will have the
crowd behind him, but Worth
could nevertheless be considered
a slight favorite.
Five years younger at 26, the
only loss on the record of Worth
came in a Youth World title bid
last year against countryman
Rico Schultz.
Since then he has won seven
straight, including a successful
challenge and a defense of the
German International title.
Last time out he beat undefeated
Harun Akcabelen over ten rounds,
and his credentials are just a
little bit better than the
Frenchman’s.
However, It will be interesting
to see what will prevail on the
night, the desire and support
Foure must feel from fighting at
home, or the youth, hunger and
confidence that will be on
Worth´s side.
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