Former World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) Heavyweight Champion Sergei “The White Wolf” Liakhovich is primed and set to challenge defending champion Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius for the WBO and World Boxing Association (“WBA”) Inter-Continental titles, next Saturday (Aug. 27) in a 12-round bout airing live in the United States from Efurt, Germany on the EPIX cable network.
Liakhovich (25-3, 16 KOs), who lives in Arizona, departs this Saturday for Germany, where Helenius resides. An impressive victory against Helenius (15-0, 10 KOs) — WBO #2, IBF #3, WBA #9, IBF #13 and No. 9 by The Ring – will set the stage for a major showdown with either of the current world title holders, Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko.
“I am ready and looking forward to August 27th,” Liakhovich said in between recent training sessions. “Helenius is a good fighter. He does certain things in the ring very well, but my job is to take that away from him. I will beat him at what he does badly and will take away what he does well. Fans are going to see a high- quality level of boxing and fighting from me.”
Liakhovich has a decisive experience advantage against Helenius, in terms of total professional fights (28 to 15) and rounds (161-70), as well as a huge edge in strength of opponents fought. Sergei is also being trained once again by Kenny Weldon, who worked with Liakhovich in the past, including his WBO title-winning performance against Lamon Brewster.
“My experience is a huge advantage in this fight,” Liakhovich noted. “I have been to war and back several times in my boxing career. There is no substitute for experience. Kenny and I are on the same page.”
Liakhovich’s Boston-based advisor and veteran boxing lawyer, Anthony Cardinale, revealed that Sergei passed on a much more lucrative offer to challenge Helenius.
“We were offered three times more money than this purse to fight one of the Klitschko brothers before Christmas,” Cardinale explained. “Sergei and I believe that there will be considerable more demand (and therefore much more money) for a Klitschko title fight following his defeat of Helenius. It was Sergei’s choice, and one I admire and respect
“Sergei is determined to win and more than ready to fight. Helenius is going to quickly find out that he is in the ring with someone he has not seen before — an opponent as relentless, confident and skilled as Sergei.”
“This is Sergei’s first fight since signing with Main Events,” his promoter Kathy Duva said. “From our first conversation he has clearly expressed his desire to make a real statement in the heavyweight division by fighting absolutely anyone. He is taking on a big challenge in Helenius, but we expect that by next Saturday (Aug. 27) everyone will know that Liakhovich is back and ready to regain his world heavyweight title.”
