BIG TIME BOXING RETURNS TO DEUTSCHLAND
Beyer defends WBC title against Sheika this weekend in Berlin

By Patrick Sturm
FightBeat.com Staff Writer

After six weeks without any major cards, German boxing returns with the WBC super middleweight championship between defending champion Markus Beyer (32-2, 12 KO). He defends his title this Saturday in Berlin, against American-based former three-time world title challenger Omar Sheika (26-7, 17 KO).

In his last title defence, Beyer earned a hard fought decision over his Australian nemesis Danny Green in a rematch of their controversial 2003 encounter. It was typical for the 34-year old German southpaw, whose career has been a roller coaster of the unexpected.

In 1999 he became only the second German (the late Max Schmeling being the first) to win a world title on foreign soil. He went to Telford, England, which was the hometown of then-champion Richie Woodhall, where he dropped him three times en rout to a unanimous decision. It was just the beginning of what has been an up and down battle of a career. 

Two fights and about six months later, Beyer was stopped by unheralded British contender Glenn Catley in the 12th and final round. In 2003, he regained the green belt via controversial decision over Canadian Eric Lucas.

In his first defense of his second reign, he was pummelled around the ring by Australian Danny Green for five rounds, before Green literally lost his head and was disqualified for a blatant intentional head butt.

In 2004, the belief that Beyer’s best years were behind him were seemingly confirmed when he lost his green belt again. This time it was fringe contender Cristian Sanavia who scored the upset, a split decision in Germany.

The upset was huge, but Sanavia’s fifteen minutes of fame barely lasted that long. He lost a rematch to Beyer four months, also in Germany

After being knocked around the ring for five rounds in the rematch, Beyer caught Sanavia with a three punch combination which dropped the Italian for the full count. Beyer was now a three time WBC super middleweight champion, but people were counting the days to his rematch with Green, where it was all supposed to end for the WBC champion again, this time for good.

Beyer was often described as a fighter who lacked confidence in his own ability, so he looked for help from a psychologist prior to his rematch with Green. Not surprisingly, Beyer had to endure some ridicule over his decision to search professional help.

A confident and focused Beyer, however, got the last laugh when he out-boxed “The Green Machine” and earned a majority decision, despite another mental lapse that resulted in a knockdown in the final round.

Beyer had a couple of mental lapses in his career against Green, Catley and Japanese trial horse Yoshinori Nishizawa. Those mental lapses are the opening the hard-punching Sheika will be looking for this Saturday at the IC-Center in Berlin. After his unsuccessful challenges against Joe Calzaghe and Eric Lucas, Sheika turned back the clock a bit with a gallant, career-rejuvenating effort against IBF champion Jeff Lacy last December.

Despite dropping a decision to Lacy, the 28-year old American was able to restore respect into what had become a badly faded career of near misses. He is hoping to ride that wave into this fight, which may very well be his last shot at a world title.

On the under card, veteran Oktay Urkal (35-3, 11 KO) will defend his European welterweight title against Russian Maxim Nesterenko (44-7-2, 28 KO).

Nesterenko will serve as a replacement for Dane Thomas Damgaard (36-0, 27 KO), who once again pulled out of a big fight. Meanwhile, Urkal, ranked #1 by the WBA, is hoping for his first world title fight at welterweight against WBA regular champion Luis Collazo. 

Also in action will be up-and-coming cruiserweight Alexander Huck (10-0, 10 KO), who will face experienced stable mate Rüdiger May (40-4-3, 9 KO) in the first ten rounder of his young career. May, who has unsuccessfully challenged Johnny Nelson and Alexander Gurov for World and European titles, will present a stiff challenge for Huck, who turned pro only nine months ago.

The card also features two young fighters who could inject some life into the comatose heavyweight division in the future. The Russian baby face Alexander Povetkin (1-0-0, 1 KO), who has won every major amateur championship, including the gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics, will take on American Cerrone Fox (7-3, 7 KO).

After his defection from the Cuban national team during an amateur contest in Germany, 20-year old 2004 Cuban Olympian Yoan Pablo Hernandez will make his pro debut in a cruiserweight contest against Czech David Vicena.

The card will be promoted by Sauerland Event.

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