Tag: arendal

UNBEATEN BALL: “I’M COMING TO NORWAY TO WIN”

Post author By f/s
Post date February 19, 2019

“For me, boxing was natural progression from my kickboxing career,” she says. “There wasn’t anything left for me to achieve in the sport, and I wanted a new challenge. I had two K1 fights after I won my last world title, I enjoyed it, but the plan was to go in to boxing, and the time was right when I turned pro in 2017.

UNBEATEN BALL: “I’M COMING TO NORWAY TO WIN”

Rachel Ball (4-0) is relishing the opportunity to put her unbeaten record on the line against former European and WBC International Champion Katharina Thanderz (10-0, 2 KOs) as they provide chief support for Kai Robin Havnaa’s IBO International title fight with Rad Rashid on March 2 in Arendal.

Ball is a former three-time world kickboxing champion, who having switched disciplines is undefeated in her four professional contests. Her last bout, a bloody battle with Eftychia Kathopouli, was named ‘Fight Of Year’ by the British Boxing Board of Control Midlands Area, and the 27 year-old is promising another ‘war’ as she travels the North Sea to take on the undefeated Thanderz.

“I’m coming to Norway to win and that’s the only outcome I envision in my mind. If I thought any differently, I wouldn’t bother stepping in the ring,” says Ball. “I don’t make predictions on points, stoppages or TKOs, but what I do predict is an excellent showcase for women’s boxing, a brilliant fight, and a war too!

“I might look friendly but put me in a ring and I’m a different person. I’m an exciting fighter. There’s no other fighter out there who looks like me. I stand out in appearance and in the way I fight. This will be a fight you don’t want to miss!

“Thanderz has a good record. She’s fought for two titles, so she’s experienced in fighting over longer rounds. I’ve watched her fights. She’s a tough girl, and it’s going to be a great fight for women’s boxing and for the fans. Everyone at home is excited for me to fight someone as credible as Thanderz. This as a big opportunity for my career, and I’m excited to fight her.”

Having claimed multiple World titles as a kickboxer, Balls hopes to emulate this success as boxer, drawing on her past experience to fight her way to the top.

“I maintain that kickboxers are tough, getting punched in the face is one thing but getting kicked in the face is another. It’s great being a multiple world champion. I’ve had a lot of title fights and gone a lot of rounds, which is great experience to bring into my boxing career, but with that said, I’m a completely different now from my kickboxing days, and from the fights I’ve had since.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no

Read more on Srour vs Szabo HERE

Read more on Sauerland Promotion HERE

Tags arendal, boxing, Germany, London, norway, sauerland promotion

Boxing News

HISTORIC TITLE FIGHT CONFIRMED FOR HAVNAA

Post author By f/s
Post date February 15, 2019

“When I started boxing, it was a dream, and now, after many years of hard work, I’m finally here, ready to fight for a title with one of the big boxing organisations, and to do it in front of my home crowd, makes it even more special!”

HISTORIC TITLE FIGHT CONFIRMED FOR HAVNAA

Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0, 11 KOs) has the chance to write his name into the history books with the IBO International Cruiserweight title now confirmed for his clash with Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid (16-4, 13 KOs) on March 2 in Arendal.

Havnaa’s historic title fight will be the first time in over 40 years that a male boxer has fought for an international title on Norwegian soil following Harald Skog’s unsuccessful attempt at Victor Galindez’s WBA World Light Heavyweight title at the Ekeberg Hall in Oslo on March 28, 1976.

The IBO belt will give added significance to an already huge night for the Norwegian star as he looks establish himself on the World stage and move a step closer to achieving his ultimate aim of becoming World Champion.

“This is a massive opportunity for me,” said Havnaa. “I would like to thank my promoter Nisse Sauerland for making this possible. I’ve never been so excited about a fight in my life. This makes everything bigger. To have the national anthems and everything else that comes with a title fight, it’s amazing!

“This is going to be a huge milestone in my career. When I started boxing, it was a dream, and now, after many years of hard work, I’m finally here, ready to fight for a title with one of the big boxing organisations, and to do it in front of my home crowd, makes it even more special!

“My motivation for this fight has always been high because I have such a tough opponent, but now there’s a title on the line, it makes it even more important. I need to make sure I’ve trained right and I’m in my best possible shape.

“It would mean everything for me to win and to raise the belt over my head in front of my supporters. I really mean it went I say that everyone who’s there supporting me will have a piece of this belt because without them none of this would be possible. Without them, we wouldn’t be having a big Team Sauerland show in Arendal and I wouldn’t have this chance to fight for my first title.”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland says he is delighted to be bringing this historic fight to Arendal, and believes it could be ‘the start of something special’ for Havnaa.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for Kai,” said Sauerland. “To get the chance to fight for his first major title in front of his home fans is something special. It is sure to bring more excitement to the SØR Amfi. I hope everyone in Arendal gets behind their hometown hero and cheers him to victory on March 2.

“Winning this belt will open a lot of doors for Kai. He can’t take it for granted as Rashid is a dangerous opponent with his own title aspirations, but if he wins, this could be the start of something special for Kai, and for Norwegian boxing.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Read more on Nazari vs Gogosevic HERE

Read more on Srour vs Szabo HERE

Read more on Sauerland Promotion HERE

Tags arendal, boxing, Germany, norway, sauerland promotion, sweden

Boxing News

ERLING HAVNAA: “WE HAVE A PLAN TO GET KAI TO THE TOP”

Post author By f/s
Post date January 29, 2019

“I see a guy that looks strong,” says Erling. “Rashid is an experienced opponent with twenty professional fights, but I believe Kai can beat him. Kai is hungrier, and I know he will do anything to win, but this is professional boxing and when two heavy guys at a good level get in the ring, anything can happen.

ERLING HAVNAA: “WE HAVE A PLAN TO GET KAI TO THE TOP”

Erling Havnaa will take charge of Kai Robin Havnaa’s corner for his upcoming cruiserweight clash with Rad Rashid on March 2 in Arendal, after head coach Joey Gamache was injured in an unprovoked attack and left unable to travel.

Havnaa faces his toughest career test as returns to the SØR Amfi to headline his hometown arena, but for the first time in his career, he must enter the ring without his coach Gamache, who is currently recovering in New York.

Havnaa’s uncle Erling, who has previously worked as an assistant to Gamache, will now assume responsibility as head coach, and can draw on past experience having witnessed his brother Magne Havnaa, Norway’s only male World Champion, claim the WBO World Cruiserweight title.

“Now that Joey is unable to travel to Norway and be in Kai’s corner for this fight, I have no problem taking over this job and responsibility,” says Erling.

“With that said, to be clear, I want Joey to be Kai’s head trainer in future, and I am happy to continue my role as assistant when Kai needs me. I think Joey is one of the best trainers in the world and the best trainer out there for Kai.

“We will continue to follow Joey’s system. I don’t plan on changing too much. There will be a lot of sparring in the coming weeks, and Kai has already been doing all his running right, so he will be reaching peak shape soon. I just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he’s not overtraining.”

Erling was a constant figure in his brother Magne Havnaa’s corner and was there to see him write his name in the history books by stopping undefeated American Boone Pultz in a rematch for the WBO World title on May 17, 1990.

“For Magne’s fights, my role was to be a brother he could trust,” says Erling. “I didn’t have the same experience that I have now. He had his own trainer and a professional team around him. I helped him with some light sparring, and I was someone he could talk to and discuss different career options with.

“But all that experience is very helpful for me now. I have been in the fight game since the 80s, and having been so close to my brother during his successful professional career, there’s not much I haven’t seen before.”

While Erling admits there are similarities between his nephew and brother, he is also quick to point out their differences, but says he believes Kai has the ability to follow in his father’s footsteps and become Norway’s next World Champion.

“I see many similarities, of course, but they’re also different in many ways too. We cannot try to make Kai my brother; rather we must be honest and treat Kai as his own individual. Magne had a long amateur career, which is something Kai did not, but Kai has many strengths that are even better than my brother’s.

“It’s extremely difficult to follow in Magne’s footsteps,” he adds. “There has only been one man from Norway to have made it as World Champion, and that’s my brother, but it’s not impossible for Kai. If the motivation is there and he remains injury free, he can make it. We have a plan to get Kai to the top!”

Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid will be looking to derail Havnaa’s promising career, but Erling is confident his nephew has what it takes to overcome the German’s challenge and continue his climb to the peak of the cruiserweight division.

happen.

“People are excited for this one. Everyone in Arendal was very happy with the last event. I know they appreciate an athlete like Kai, who is working hard and putting everything on the line in the ring. I’m expecting another great fight!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against unbeaten Brit Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo, Anders Eggan faces Frane Radnic, and Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no

Read more on Nazari vs Gogosevic HERE

Read more on Srour vs Szabo HERE

NAZARI: “I WANT TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR THE AFGHAN AND NORWEGIAN YOUTH”

Post author By f/s
Post date January 25, 2019

“I’m looking forward to putting on a great show on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal,” said Nazari. “Ivica Gogosevic is a strong, experienced opponent, who I’m sure is going to give me a good fight.

NAZARI: “I WANT TO BE A ROLE MODEL FOR THE AFGHAN AND NORWEGIAN YOUTH”

Jamshid Nazari (3-0, 1 KO) continues his promising career on March 2 with a six-round welterweight clash against Ivica Gogosevic (12-24-2, 5 KOs) on the undercard of Kai Robin Havnaa’s cruiserweight showdown with Rad Rashid.

Nazari is the latest addition to an action-packed show in Arendal, and following victories over Bakar Gelenidze, Nika Nalikashvili and Richard Walter, the Kristiansand-boxer says he is excited to be fighting so close to home.

“Fighting in Arendal will be like fighting at home. It will be my first time fighting so close to home, so I’m expecting to have a lot of fans coming to support me.”

Although only 26 years old, Nazari has already experienced a lot in life. At the age of 14, he was forced to flee his native Afghanistan after both parents were killed, eventually arriving in Norway, where he discovered his talent for boxing.

When asked what he hopes to achieve in his professional boxing career, the talented fighter does not mention World titles, money or fame, rather he responds: “I want to be a role model for the Afghan & Norwegian youth.”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight clash against unbeaten Brit Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo, Anders Eggan faces Frane Radnic and Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no

Read more on Srour vs Szabo HERE

Read more on Sauerland Promotion HERE

Tags afghanistan, arendal, boxing, Germany, norway, sauerland promotion

Boxing News

EGGAN: “I WANT TO MAKE BOXING LOOK PRETTY”

Post author By f/s
Post date January 24, 2019

“I respect every opponent, but all my focus is on me. I can’t do anything about my opponents, so I don’t waste my thoughts on them. I will need to bring my A-game as I know Radnic is a good boxer. I’m looking forward to sharing the ring with him, and I hope we have a great and entertaining fight.”

EGGAN: “I WANT TO MAKE BOXING LOOK PRETTY”

Anders Eggan (3-0, 1 KO) will face Frane Radnic (11-11, 10 KOs) on the undercard of Kai Robin Havnaa’s hometown cruiserweight showdown with Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

Eggan is a former Norwegian national and Nordic junior amateur champion, who has also competed at both World and European Amateur Championships.

Having made his professional debut on October 21, 2017, with a unanimous points win over Lewis van Poetsch in Stokke, the 23 year-old has gone on to claim victories over Dumitru Nicu Manea in La Nucia, Spain and Maksym Onyshchenko at the Kolstad Arena in his hometown of Trondheim

“I’m really excited for this fight. I feel really good, and I love to fight in front of a Norwegian crowd. I’ve heard that the people in Arendal make a lot of noise, so I want to bring an exciting fight with high entertainment value,” says Eggan ahead of his six-round clash with Croatia’s Frane Radnic.

Radnic has recorded ten of his eleven victories inside the distance, an impressive statistic, but not something Eggan admits to being worried about.

“It is what it is,” he says. “I’m used to fighting powerful boxers so I’m not worried. It’s all part of the game. I’ll bring my best boxing, and that’ll be enough.

“I plan to do a lot of physical training for this fight, so I can come in stronger than ever. I want to give the crowd power and technique combined! I also have a lot of different sparring partners that will help me with my preparations.

“I promise an entertaining fight. I like to entertain and I love to bring excitement. I’m not scared to take risks. I want to make boxing look pretty.”

Boxing is not Eggan’s only profession, and when out of the ring, he is equally comfortable in front of a camera working as a professional model.

“I like the combination of modelling and boxing,” he says. “Boxing is my main priority, and I love a good brawl, but as said, I want to make boxing look pretty!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo in a six-round super lightweight contest, while middleweight Anders Eggan takes on Frane Radnic also over six-rounds.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no

SROUR: “I WILL PLAY WITH HIM FOR 5 ROUNDS, THEN SHUT HIM DOWN IN THE 6TH”

Post author By f/s
Post date January 22, 2019

“I’ll be coming into this fight in my best shape ever, so expect fireworks. I started my training camp sparring IBF Youth World Champion Enock Poulsen, and next week, I’m starting an international training camp with some of the best boxers in the world, so I couldn’t ask for better preparations.

SROUR: “I WILL PLAY WITH HIM FOR FIVE ROUNDS, THEN SHUT HIM DOWN IN THE SIXTH”

Hadi Srour (2-0, KOs) returns to the professional ring on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal to face Zoltan Szabo (25-15, 11 KOs) on the undercard of Kai Robin Havnaa’s cruiserweight showdown with Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Srour is one of Norway’s most exciting boxing prospects with over 100 amateur wins to his name, and has successfully transitioned to the professional ranks with stoppage victories over Michael Mooney and Artur Zemlianyi.

The Tønsberg-boxer will now test his skills against Hungary’s Zoltan Szabo, who recently went the distance with 2016 Olympic Gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov, has stopped Stephen Ormond inside five rounds, and proved a tough test for top UK prospects Ohara Davies and Robbie Davis Jnr.

Despite his opponent’s pedigree, the 23 year-old Srour says he is confident in his ability and plans to continue his one hundred percent stoppage streak, even going so far as to predict in which round he will end the fight.

“I’m looking forward to fighting in Arendal and performing in front of a packed out crowd at the SØR Amfi on March 2,” said Srour.

“Since my last professional fight, I’ve been to three international tournaments in Turkey, Finland and Serbia. I’ve boxed nine fights against top boxers and won seven of those. I’ve also knocked out two boxers in these tournaments, which shows how my style has changed since turning professional.

“Szabo is a huge step up for me, but everyone loves a gamble, and I trust my skill set, so let’s go. I like to take my time in the ring so I can showcase my skills. I will play with him for five rounds, then shut him down in the sixth. Get your tickets now and buckle up because it’s going to be a wild ride!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo in a six-round super lightweight contest.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no

Read more on Sauerland Promotion HERE

Tags arendal, boxing, Germany, London, sauerland promotion