Nuzhnenko-Senchenko is official!
In an unprecedented local superfight, two best Ukrainian welterweights will collide for a world championship on April 10th, when WBA regular champion Yuri Nuzhnenko (28-0-1, 13 KOs) risks his belt against WBA #4 ranked and fellow unbeaten Vyacheslav Senchenko (28-0, 20 KOs). Both parties involved, K2 East Promotions (Nuzhnenko) and Union Boxing Promotions (Senchenko), have made the final arrangements this week, and both boxers signed the contract yesterday. The fight will take place at Druzhba Sports Palace in Donetsk and will headline a huge tournament, presented by the Union Boxing Promotions. That'll be the first time in post-Soviet history when two local fighters dispute a world title in their homeland.
Nuzhnenko acquired his title in December, 2007, after a hard-fought road victory over Frenchman Frederic Klose. He retained his title in an unspectacular fashion with a technical draw versus Puerto Rican Irving Garcia last April; the fight in which he was terribly cut and considerably bruised by both Garcia's headbutts and punches. He came back on Christmas Eve and scored a workmanlike decision over journeyman Ikbal Kurbonov.
Senchenko had his share of victories in last two years. Ironically, Klose was the only common opponent for both fighters with Donetsk native edging him with a razor-thin (115-113 thrice) decision last July.
Also, European featherweight champion Oleg Yefimovich (15-1, 10 KOs), who is ranked WBO #3, WBC #11 and WBA #14, will conduct the second defense of his belt versus experienced Frenchman Osman Aktas (33-16-5, 6 KOs). WBC #13 super middleweight Stas Kashtanov (23-0, 13 KOs) and junior welterweight Vladimir Kravets (18-0, 11 KOs) will be showcased in separate bouts.