Team Sauerland: 35 Years and Counting

by
Team Sauerland: 35 Years and Counting
“The icing on the cake was when Nikolay Valuev defeated John Ruiz in 2005 to win the WBA World heavyweight title.” (Photo: Martin Rose/Getty Images Sport)

Team Sauerland: 35 Years and Counting

by
Team Sauerland: 35 Years and Counting
“The icing on the cake was when Nikolay Valuev defeated John Ruiz in 2005 to win the WBA World heavyweight title.” (Photo: Martin Rose/Getty Images Sport)

“The icing on the cake was when Nikolay Valuev defeated John Ruiz in 2005 to win the WBA World heavyweight title.” (Photo: Martin Rose/Getty Images Sport)
“The icing on the cake was when Nikolay Valuev defeated John Ruiz in 2005 to win the WBA World heavyweight title.” (Photo: Martin Rose/Getty Images Sport)

Sauerland Event is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, September 26, at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany, interim WBA super welterweight champion Jack Culcay (20-1, 10 KOs), from Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany, by way of Ambato, Ecuador, will defend his title against unbeaten Dennis “Hurricane” Hogan (20-0-1, 7 KOs), from Newstead, Queensland, Australia, by way of Kildare, Ireland.

In the co-main event, undefeated Tyrone Zeuge (17-0, 10 KOs), fighting out of Berlin, faces former European champion Eduard Gutknecht (28-3-1, 11 KOs), from Gifhorn, Niedersachsen, Germany, by way of Dzhetysai, Kazakhstan, for the vacant WBO Inter-Continental super middleweight title.

Speaking at the press conference in advance of next Wednesday’s fights, Wilfried Sauerland said, “Boxing was a hobby that became a passion that still burns today. I’m very proud of my sons Kalle and Nisse who share this passion and are guiding the next generation of German world champions.”

The show commemorates, to the day, the 35th anniversary of Wilfried Sauerland’s first event on German soil. When asked which fights during his long and storied career are most memorable, the 75-year-old Sauerland didn’t miss a beat.

“The fight between Graciano Rocchigiani and Vincent Boulware in 1988 in Düsseldorf was sensational. When Rocky won by TKO in the eighth round, we had our first world champion. Then, five years later, there was Henry Maske’s win against Charles Williams. But the icing on the cake was when Nikolay Valuev defeated John Ruiz at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin in 2005 to win the WBA World heavyweight title. It was our first heavyweight title and it was unforgettable. Even Muhammad Ali was sitting ringside.”

Wilfried Sauerland was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2010 and has navigated the careers of Alexander Povetkin, George Groves, Arthur Abraham, Marco Huck, Cecilia Braekus, Mikkel Kessler, John Mugabi, Sven Ottke, Axel Schulz, Yoan Pablo Hernandez, and Nicolay Valuev, among others.

“It’s an honor for me to headline this special anniversary show,” said Culcay. “It doesn’t matter how tough Hogan is, I will do everything I can to ensure I win!”

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.


WBA Ratings movements as of July 2015

WBA Ratings movements as of July 2015



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