Heavyweight contender Ruslan Chagaev
to face Rob Calloway

European Light Heavyweight Championship Stipe Drews (Croatia) vs. Antonio Brancalion (Italy)

Heavy Pro Deb: Amateur World Champion Alexeev

signs with Spotlight Boxing

Fight Night in Munich, Germany: Januar 7, Zenith Live on ZDF TV

Universum’s unbeaten heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev, former amateur world champion and known as the „White Tyson“, will face the All-American Prizefighter Rob Calloway for ten or less rounds in Munich on January 7, 2006 (ZDF TV airs live, follow www.boxing.de for details and reports). Chagaev is originally from Uzbekistan and fights out of Hamburg, Germany. He is trained by Michael Timm, who also takes care of Felix Sturm and world champions Sergej Dzindziruk (WBO Superwelter) and Wladimir Sidorenko (WBA Bantam). Chagaev is one of the most promising fighters among future contenders of the heavyweight crown. He is WBA # 15, WBO # 9 and Fightnews # 14.

Chagaev is known for his relentless, hard-hitting one-punch-KO style. Says trainer Michael Timm: “I do not want him to KO his opponents too early. Since he is capable of outboxing everybody, I much more want him to do that rather than just go for the KO.” Inside the ropes Chagaev is often uncontrollable. However, the public enjoys his hunting style. “He has a very good eye for an opening”, says Timm. Chagaev is on the quiet side. He does not like to talk much. But when he puts on his gloves, everybody is impressed by the speed and the power in his hands. “I know I can make trouble to any other fighter in the world – not only because I am a southpaw.” Chagaev has won 18 out of 19 pro fights with 15 knockouts. He has one draw in his record – against Rob Calloway who is now his Munich opponent. “This is a highly-anticipated fight in Germany and for the division in general”, says Universum’s Technical Director Jean-Marcel Nartz, 59, who works in pro boxing for 30 years now.

And Nartz is looking forward to the main event in Munich on January 7, the European Championship at Light Heavyweight between Stipe Drews from Croatia and Antonio Brancalion from Italy. “Stipe is one of the finest and funniest characters the world of boxing has ever seen”, says Nartz. The former and “hopefully future” (Nartz) European Champion has 29 wins, 1 loss and a boxing style which is awkward to deal with. Says trainer Michael Timm: “No-one wants to face him, not even in sparring, because he’s got so many tricks and feints to make you look bad, it is unbelievable!” Drews is very tall for a light heavyweight and reminds Nartz of Henry Maske who, as a southpaw with long arms, made everybody look bad in the ring.

Nartz staged all of Maske’s fights, which belonged to the biggest boxing events ever held in Germany. Maske’s last waltz took place in Munich ten years ago. “Now we are back with a light heavy prospect”, says Nartz. Drews lost his eliminator fight for the WBC challenger spot to Paul Briggs in 2004 a tremendous battle with ingredients that do not fit in a boxing ring. Drews lost on points, but is sure he would have won the fight, if Briggs had not made him mad by provoking him too often. “If I can regain my European title”, says Drews, “I will get another shot at the world title, I’m sure. The best light heavyweights originate from Europe, except Tarver and Johnson maybe.”

Drews is one of the most popular fighters among the sports nation of Croatia. His fights are broadcast live on RTL Croatia with market shares between 30 and 50 percent. Drews is friends with former heavyweight contender Zeljko Mavrovic.

The 9-fight card in Munich features Germany’s top amateur boxer during recent years, who has now turned pro: Vitali Tajbert from Stuttgart will show his attractive style. Though still early in his pro career, he is being compared with the young Naseem Hamed. Newly-crowned amateur world champion Alexander Alexeev from Russia (heavyweight) turns pro with Hamburg-based Spotlight Boxing (Promoter: Dietmar Poszwa) and will have his debut in Munich against Blanchard Kalambay from Congo. Alexeev is 24 years old, as an amateur he became Russian champion, Military World Champion, European Champion and World Champion (China 2005).