On November 7 at Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco, WBA World light heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer (47-2, 35 KOs), from Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, defends his title against unbeaten Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen (25-0-2, 14 KOs), from Boksburg, Gauteng, South Africa, the current IBO light heavyweight champ who is ranked #11 by the WBA.
It will be Braehmer’s sixth defense of the WBA title he won from Marcus Oliveira in 2013.
The championship fight between Braehmer and Oosthuizen, both of whom are clever southpaws, will anchor the “Night of Champions” tournament which spotlights boxers China, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, France, South Africa, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
“I’m very happy to get the opportunity to come to Monaco and defend my title at such a special venue,” said Braehmer. “This is a chance for me to let the world know that Juergen Braehmer is ready for any challenge. Oosthuizen is a quality opponent but he has never fought anyone like me. No matter how hard he trains, it will not be enough to take my title from me.’’
“I’m thrilled,” said Oosthuizen about his upcoming bout with the reigning and defending WBA champion. “This is a big opportunity to display my skills and claim the prized WBA title. I’ve been waiting for a long time and this could lead to unification fights and my dream to become the first South African to make a division his own.
“I’ve seen Braehmer. His hand speed is critical. I’m going to have to bring my A-game. He’s similar to me with counterpunching and angles, but I can adjust my style and I can adapt. I’ll have a response to whatever he brings.”
Braehmer’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland, is pleased at how the “Night of Champions” is shaping up. “We’re delighted to be working with Rodney Berman’s Golden Gloves,” he said, “to deliver fans a hotly anticipated world championship fight between Juergen Braehmer and Tommy Oosthuizen. Juergen has never shied away from a challenge and when the opportunity came for him to defend his title in Monaco he didn’t have to give it a second thought. This is a chance for him to further his legacy and prove once again why he belongs at the top of the light heavyweight division.”
In addition to the main event, the undercard is stacked with dynamic fights.
Interim WBA bantamweight champion Yonfrez “El Verdugo” Parejo (16-1-1, 7 KOs), from Anzoategui, Venezuela, defends his title against Zhanat Zhakiyanov (25-1, 18 KOs), from Petropavl, Kazakhstan. Zhakiyanov is a road warrior and has fought in China, the UK, Australia, Thailand, Bulgaria, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, and Russia. He is ranked #2 by the WBA is a trained by the legendary Ricky Hatton. He currently holds the European bantamweight title
David Avanesyan (20-1-1, 10 KOs), from Pyatigorsk, Russia, who has sparred with Carl Froch, George Groves, and James DeGale, fights veteran Charlie Navarro (25-7, 20 KOs), from Monagas, Venezuela, for the vacant WBA Intercontinental welterweight title. Navarro fought Vyacheslav Senchenko for the WBA title in 2010.
Adam Etches (19-1, 16 KOs), aka The Bomber, from Sheffield, Yorkshire, United Kingdom, meets Yosuke Kirima (21-5-2, 14 KOs), from Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, for the PABA Interim middleweight title.
And last but not least, French super bantamweight champion Amor Beladhj Ali (14-3-1, 2 KOs), from Lyon, Rhône, France, trades punches with Qiu Xiao Jun (17-2, 7 KOs), aka The Dragon, from Suzhou, China, for the WBC Silver super bantamweight title.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
