OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Saturday June 20th, 2009
by Alex McIntyre - OnThEGRiND BoXiNG Scotland, on location in Germany

The Heavyweight boxing scene is alive and well in Gelsinkirchen, Germany. The city is buzzing with all thoughts on the big showdown with Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev. The locals here in the Reine land have really taken to this match up with young and old all having their own particular views on the fight. If this division is supposed to be dead, somebody forgot to tell the Germans because the party atmosphere over here makes a refreshing change to the doom and gloom that’s surrounded the division for so long.

In the first part of Friday’s two city weigh in Wladimir Klitschko and Ruslan Chagaev arrived at a Shopping Centre in Dortmund to a packed crowd of expectant German supporters. Chagaev tipped the scales at 225 and Wladimir with Big Brother Vitali looking on came in at a lean 240lbs. Both fighters looked in great shape and very relaxed, and with no sign of any tension it was quite a civilized affair between the two ending with a friendly handshake at the end.

With the Main event done and dusted it was off to Essen to catch up with the rest of the card…
In more of a low key event at the City Hotel, the participant’s weighed in without any drama. Although one notable was Russian Heavyweight prospect Alexander Ustinov, who tipped the scales at an incredible 305lbs, a full 65 lbs heavier than English opponent Michael Sprott. A small contingent of Irish Fans were also there to cheer on Andy Lee as he weighed in just over the limit at 161lbs

The full weights for the Undercard are as follows:
Alexander Ustinov 139.6 kg vs Michael Sprott 107.5 kg
Jonathon Banks 99 kg vs Paul Butlin 106.5 kg
Andy Lee 73.2 kg vs Olegs Fedotovs 72kg
Cedric Boswell 104 kg vs Serdar Uysal 96 kg
Daniel Kaefer 69.5 kg vs Omar Siala 69.5 kg