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02/24/2006 Archived Entry: "Alesia Graf Just a Few Days Away from 2nd Title Shot!"
Alesia Graf Just a Few Days Away from 2nd Title Shot!
STUTTGART – On Tuesday Alesia Graf is facing the second great test of her professional career. On the Spotlight Boxing gala at Alte Reithalle of Maritim Hotel in Stuttgart the German based Belarussian is reaching out for a woman boxing world title again.
Graf, 12-1 (5), is moving down one weight class to the jr. bantamweight limit to fight for the GBU crown against Marylin Hernandez, 12-4 (7), from the Dominican Republic, an experienced woman who already challenged WIBF flyweight champion Regina Halmich.
The contest between Graf and Hernandez, as well as four other fights, will be broadcast live on www.boxing.de starting at 6 PM CET. Eurosport will broadcast at 9 PM.
According to coach Torsten Schmitz his charge is extremely fit.
"Alesia is fighting for a world title. She has to be fit”, Schmitz explained almost indignant. “We’ve been working hard for the past four weeks. Her sparring was the best I’ve ever seen from her. Our common work clearly helped her.”
Schmitz thinks that with the right game plan her 25-year-old fighter will capture the GBU title on Tuesday.
"We have to look and see whether Hernandez is on the attack or whether she will be dancing and moving like against Regina. We are prepared for either situation”, Schmitz said. “Alesia must keep her busy with her jab and then follow up with clean right hands. Training and contest are two different things of course. We will see how things are going and the adjust our tactics.”
Schmitz has the first world title fight of his fighter in good memories despite the fact that Graf lost a unanimous decision to Alicia Ashley in May 2005.
"I wouldn’t say that this fight came too early for Alesia. Certainly she was lacking a bit experience. Ashley on that certain day was just too good. But Alesia hasn’t disappointed me at all. She perfomed well and she did as good as she could at that stage of her career. Even her game plan was executed well. If she just wouldn’t have suffered that one knockdown she may have won the decision.”
On a long-term basis Schmitz sees a bright professional future for Graf.
"Alesia may have started boxing a bit late and she didn’t have many amateur fights. But the same is true for Regina Halmich. In one or two years I see Alesia as a true champion. And I have no doubt that she will capture the title on Tuesday.
Fightcard and broadcasting schedule:
Boxing.de/TV Live Broadcast
28.02.2006
(18:00 CET - 12:00AM ET - 9:00AM PT)
Cruiserweight:
Rudolf Kraj vs. Vage Kocharyan
Heavyweight:
Dieter Roth vs. Marek Oravsky
WBC Youth Super Middleweight Championship:
Konni Konrad vs. Alfonso Mosquera
Heavyweight:
Alex Mazikin vs. TBA
GBU Jr. Bantamweight Championship:
Alesia Graf vs. Marylin Hernandez
Eurosport Live Broadcast
(21:00 CET)
Super Featherweight:
Vitali Tajbert vs. Alain Rakow
Super Middleweight:
Dimitri Sartison vs. Andy Halder
Super Middleweight:
Denis Inkin vs. Peter Mashamaite
