The Cyber Boxing Zone Newswire |
| Artur Grigorian to Defend WBO Lightweight Title in the Co-Main Event of Klitschko-Mahone: Fabian Weber |
Artur Grigorian vs. Michael
Clark Oberhausen, 4 October 1999. In the co-main event of the Klitschko-Mahone showdown in Oberhausen a small man, who might be the best kept secret worldwide, will be making the 8th defense of his title. It's undefeated German based Uzbekian Artur Grigorian, who won the WBO lightweight world title in April of 1996 in Berlin and defended it seven times since - four times out of that in Hamburg, his home since he became a professional for Universum Box-Promotion in 1994. Grigorian, 26-0 (16 KO4s), is a small and compact southpaw with a solid stance, quick hands and feet and excellent reflexes. The 31-year-old reminds one of American Steve Johnson, Grigorian's WBC counterpart, who virtually looks like his (black) double. After winning the WBO belt with a knockout over former IBF champion Antonio Rivera, Grigorian defended the title seven times in the following three and a half years. He inflicted Argentinian Raul Horacio Balbi's single knockout loss, blew out American Gene Reed in two rounds and outscored Marty Jacubowski, David Armstrong and former European champion Oscar Garcia-Cano. In his most significant performances Grigorian stopped two men, who previously inflicted serious damange on boxing's current superstar Oscar De La Hoya: Undefeated German Marco Rudolph, "The Golden Boy's" former Amateur conquerer, and Italian Giorgio Campanella, one of the four men who were able to floor De La Hoya. Grigorian is currently the longest reigning lightweight world champion. The other titleholders are the above mentioned Steve Johnson (WBC), Italian Stefano Zoff (WBA) and American Paul Spadafora (IBF). In Oberhausen Grigorian will face undefeated American Michael Clark, the WBO's number one challenger. It will be the third title fight for Clark, 24-0 (13 KO4s), even though the first two were only for the lightly regarded belts of the IBC. The 26-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio will trust his strong stamina in Oberhausen, as he successfully went 10 rounds on three and 12 rounds on two occasions in his career - each time winning a decision. Fabian Weber German Boxing News |
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