It was at the training camp on Majorca where Arthur Abraham learned about his next opponent - the undefeated IBF middleweight champion will make his second mandatory defence against Universum´s Khoren Gevor. "That is no surprise for me," King Arthur stated. "I only took one week off in Armenia after my last fight and then started practicing straight away. I will be ready."
Some weeks ago Gevor did not look like a potential Abraham opponent as he is only rated fifth by the IBF. But with Edison Miranda, the original mandatory challenger, losing and European champion Amin Asikainen taking on Sebastian Sylvester in Zwickau on June 23, Gevor has been made mandatory challenger. "Of course Arthur is the favourite," coach Ulli Wegner said. "One must not underestimate Gevor, though, even though his name might only ring a bell with a few experts. He is fundamentally sound and a strong fighter. Arthur should not take him lightly."
The fight will also spell only the second duel between coaching legends Ulli Wegner and Universum´s Fritz Sdunek. "We have known each other for ages," said Wegner. "Back in the GDR, we competed in many fights. I have a lot of respect for him and truly appreciate the work he is doing for Universum." Their only meeting in professional boxing came in November 2000 when Vitali Klitschko clinched a points decision over Wegner´s Timo Hoffmann.
Abraham´s training camp on Majorca will come to an end this weekend. "Then we will start with the video analysis and get Arthur in perfect shape in Berlin," Wegner said. Time, date and the promoting organizers for the fight still have to be determined. "We have already picked up the negotiations with Universum," Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer said. "Of course it is our goal to stage the fight of our champion." If all goes according to plan for Sauerland Event, the fight will go down in Germany in August.
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