Patrick and Micki Nielsen headline a hometown show at the Albertslund MusikTeatret in Copenhagen on December 13. Defeat is not an option for the Danish boxing brothers, who have it all to prove when they enter the ring on Saturday night.
Patrick Nielsen (22-1, 11 KOs) returns, following an unsuccessful interim title challenge against Dmitry Chudinov in Moscow, in a must win fight against Lukasz Wawrzyczek (20-3-2, 3 KOs).
‘’My training has gone really well,’’ said the 23 year-old middleweight. ‘’I’ve been working hard in the gym and I’ve had time to correct some of the mistakes I made in Moscow. Now, I feel as though I’m ready to take on anyone in the world.
‘‘I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring and showing everyone that I’m back to my best. It has been a year of ups and downs for me, but now I’m ready to finish it with a bang!’’
‘’Patrick is one of the top middleweights in Europe,’’ said his Polish opponent, Wawrzyczek. ‘’But, I don’t think he has recovered from his defeat. This is a huge opportunity for me. I will have to box to the best of my ability, but I think I have what it takes to beat him.’’
‘’Patrick will discover who he really is on Saturday night,’’ said Nielsen’s coach, former two-time world champion, Joey Gamache. ‘’A defeat can improve you or it can destroy you. Patrick lost to a good, solid fighter in Russia, and since then I feel like he has recovered well, but it will up to him to prove he can still operate at the top level.’’
Younger brother Micki Nielsen (15-0, 12 KOs) faces the toughest challenge of his fifteen-fight career when he takes on former Mikkel Kessler opponent Gusmyr Perdomo (21-4, 14 KOs).
‘’This will be my biggest challenge, but I’m ready for it,’’ said Nielsen. ‘’My training has gone well. I’m in super shape. If Perdomo is expecting an easy fight, he is in for a nasty surprise.
‘’There has been some trash talking from Perdomo, but that doesn’t bother me. Let’s see if he has something nicer to say about me after I beat him.
‘’I’m looking forward to facing one of Mikkel Kessler’s former opponents. I was in the stands watching that fight. It was an important night for Mikkel. Perdomo is an accomplished and versatile boxer, but Mikkel broke him down, and I expect to do the same in Albertslund.’’
‘’Micki is very inexperienced, and that will be a great advantage for me,’’ said Perdomo ‘’When I fought Kessler five years ago, he destroyed my dream of becoming World Super Middleweight Champion. Micki will not stand in my way of becoming World Cruiserweight Champion.’’
‘’This is a fight Micki can’t afford to lose,’’ said coach Joey Gamache. ‘’It’s without a doubt his toughest fight, but lets see how Perdomo reacts once he feels Micki’s power. Micki is a real talent and now he has the opportunity to show what he really can do. It’s a big step up for him, but he’s ready for it. I don’t think people realise how talented he really is.’’
Said promoter Nisse Sauerland: ‘’This is a big night for Patrick and Micki. It really is make or break. It’s time for both brothers to prove their potential, and where better to do it than in front of their home fans in Albertslund.’’
