Tyron Zeuge (16-0, 10 KOs) has it all to prove on April 25 when the hotly tipped German super middleweight prospect defends his IBF International strap against former world title challenger Nikola Sjekloca (28-3, 8 KOs) in front of his home fans at the Columbia Halle in Berlin.

The seasoned Sjekloca represents Zeuge’s toughest test to date and has secured the young champion his first main event billing. Despite the pressure of headlining at home, the 22 year-old Berliner’s focus remains clear. ‘’For me this is a fight like any other,’’ said Zeuge. ‘’Whether I’m fighting on the undercard or topping the bill, my objective is the same – I must win!’’

This winning mentality has been drilled into Zeuge since joining the paid ranks in 2012 and teaming up with renowned German coach Karsten Roewer. Ahead of Zeuge’s second IBF International title defence, the experience coach has offered his protégé some words of warning. ’’Tyron is a natural when it comes to boxing,’’ said Roewer. ‘’But regardless of talent, he will need to bring his A-game to beat Sjekloca and continue his journey to the top.’’

While Zeuge’s star is rising, Sjekloca is tried and tested at the highest level. The 36 year-old has lost only three of his thirty-one professional contests and has never been stopped or dropped. In May 2014, the tough Montenegrin proved his resolve by pushing WBO World Champion Arthur Abraham to a twelve-round decision. ’’At this stage of my career my fights are only going to get tougher,’’ said Zeuge. ‘’My job is to keep improving and keep winning. If I continue to do that, my shot at the world title will come sooner rather than later.’’

On April 25, Zeuge will prove whether he is ready to take the next step on his quest to become world champion when he defends his IBF International Championship against Sjekloca. Joining him in action at the Columbia Halle in Berlin are German stars Enrico Koelling (16-1, 6 KOs), Karo Murat (26-2-1, 16 KOs), Noel Gevor (16-0, 9 KOs) and Burak Sahin (6-0, 6 KOs), plus Polish cruiserweight Mateusz Masternak (34-2, 24 KOs). Tickets are available via tickethall.de.

Former two-time world title challenger George Groves scored a 7th round stoppage over Denis Douglin in a scheduled 12 round Super Middleweight bout.

Groves dropped Douglin from a hard left in round seven and then jumped all over Douglin and the bout was stopped at 2:54 of round seven.

Groves is now 21-2 with 16 knockouts. Douglin is now 17-4.

James DeGale scored an explosive third round stoppage over former world title challenger Marco Antonio Periban in a scheduled 12-round Super Middleweight bout.

DeGale landed two hard left hands that sent Periban to the canvas. Periban got to his feet but was deemed unable to continue at 30 seconds of round three.

DeGale, 167 lbs of England is now 20-1 with 14 knockouts. Periban, 169 1/2 lbs of Mexico is now 20-3-1.

Scott Quigg outworked Hidenori Otaki to retain his WBA Super Bantamweight title via 12-round unanimous decision.

Otaki started to belled bad from his right eye in round ten.

Quigg, 121 lbs won by scores of 119-109 twice and 118-110 and is now 30-0-2. Otaki, 121 lbs is now 22-2-3.

Good looking Super Middleweight prospect Callum Smith remained perfect by scoring a 12-round unanimous decision over Nikola Sjekloca.

Smith, 167 lbs won by scores of 120-108, 118-111 and 118-110 and is now 15-0. Sjekloca, 167 lbs is now 28-3.

Jamie McDonnell retained the WBA Bantamweight title when challenger Javier Chacon was forced to retire after hurting his shoulder in the 10th round.

In round five, McDonnell was bleeding from the nose. It was a close competitive fight until Chacon waved the bout off at 39 seconds into round 10.

McDonnell is now 25-2-1 with 12 knockouts. Chacon is now 20-3.

Bradley Saunders stayed undefeated by scoring a 6-round unanimous decision over Ivans Livickis in a Welterweight bout.

Saunders, 147 lbs won by a 60-54 score and is now 11-0. Levickis, 143 lbs is 13-15.

Here are the main quotes from today’s final press conference ahead of the fight between WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham (39-4, 28 KOs) and Nikola Sjekloca (26-1, 8 KOs) this Saturday at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany, which will host its first ever world title fight.

Arthur Abraham: “I am looking forward to defend the WBO Belt at home, in my town. It is great to return to the ring inside a span of two months and I want to fight two more times after this one in 2014. Before calling it a career, sitting on the couch and watching TV at age 40, I want to meet Felix Sturm at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium – that’s what I am dreaming of.”

Nikola Sjekloca: “I am thankful, finally getting the chance to fight for a world title after being rated highly in the pro ranks for such a long time. I lost to Bika but learned from my mistakes. I will show on May 3 that it was worth the wait and the experience, becoming Montenegro’s first world champion.”

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

In less than a week, Arthur Abraham wants to defend his WBO Crown against Nikola Sjekloca. In this interview, the prodigy of coach Ulli Wegner talks about his quick return to the squared circle and what he thinks about a possible fourth match up with compatriot Robert Stieglitz.

Only two months ago, you won back the WBO Super Middleweight World Championship from Robert Stieglitz. You will defend that title on May 3. Do you have something to prove?

Arthur Abraham: No. I do not have to prove anything to anyone, except myself. I want to show that I am still hungry for success and also want to conserve my current shape by staying active. I can take a break when I am 40 years old – being retired for good.

Before you beat Stieglitz for the WBO Title, a lot of fans and experts said that you have had enough. Was your answer inside the ring also an answer to your critics?

Arthur Abraham: I also had good tactics at hand in the rematch with Stieglitz, but his “lucky punch” rendered them void. I had the same kind of preparation for our rubber match and you saw what happened there. If I would have a lack of motivation I would have hang the gloves up rather today than tomorrow. I do not give a damn about what the critics say about it.

What about a fourth meeting with Stieglitz in the future?

Arthur Abraham: We have given the fans an action-packed fight recently and I can envision that we can still give them another good fight. However, if it will come this far – I do not now. First, Stieglitz has to earn the chance to make it happen. Maybe he has to go up against someone like Tyron Zeuge, who might be too much for Stieglitz to overcome.

Next up for you is a title defense against Nikola Sjekloca. What are your thoughts on him?

Arthur Abraham: He is physical strong and has only lost once to current world champion Sakio Bika. His technique is also respectable but it still will not be enough to beat me.

When you first met Sjekloca at the kick-off press conference earlier this month, he talked more about a possible unification with Bika than about fighting you. Does he lack the proper respect for you?

Arthur Abraham: I do not care for his future plans. And by the way: who is the world champion – him or me? Before it gets tough inside the ring, a lot of fighters can talk a good game but cannot follow up their words with action. Watch my fight on May 3 to see this happen again.

Moreover, how do you want to earn Sjekloca’s respect?

Arthur Abraham: With my punching power. When my first hard punch lands precisely, Sjekloca will know what he is up against. Then it will show what he is made of.

Your coach Ulli Wegner said that you are still progressing as a boxer. How long do you want to go on with your career?

Arthur Abraham: I hope for at least another 2-3 years. I am feeling that I still have the potential to fight against the world’s best. I am still aiming to take revenge for some of my losses, like against Andre Ward. But now, it is all about beating Sjekloca on May 3.

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Ahead of his world title challenge against WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham on May 3, Nikola Sjekloca took a time out from his training to discuss his chances at the Velodrom in Berlin Germany. Here’s what he had to say…

Nikola, please give us your opinion on the fighter that is Arthur Abraham…

Nikola Sjekloca: He was a real champion with a big heart – I repeat: He was! As a middleweight, he made it to the top of the division and was a world-class operator. However, those days are long gone. Abraham is not quite as strong at the limit of 168 pounds.

…and you think you are better than he is at super middleweight?

Nikola Sjekloca: Yes, I do! I am taller and my hand speed is better than his is. On top of all this, my ring skills are just superior to Abraham’s.

You are a quite confident, Nikola – although, you have never won a world title. In your biggest fight to date, you lost to current WBC Champion Sakio Bika in a world title eliminator…

Nikola Sjekloca: That was a great experience. Because of this fight, I know that I am able to beat Abraham come May 3. Until having fought Bika, I did not know what I am capable of and this lack of knowledge cost me the win back then. Now I am pretty sure: I have the potential to be a world champion!

Were you impressed by Abraham’s performance as he recaptured the WBO Belt from Robert Stieglitz back in March?

Nikola Sjekloca: No, not really. He just made his game plan work for the whole twelve rounds as Stieglitz made some tactical mistakes from round nine on, which cost him the fight. So in my opinion, Abraham just profited from Stieglitz lapses.

What will be your key to victory?

Nikola Sjekloca: I will not give you any specifics on my tactics. The only thing I can tell you is that I am close to the camp of Floyd Mayweather. Their instructions in addition to hard workouts with my coach Milivoje Basic are the perfect package to become a world champion.

Is there any other reason to believe that you will leave the Velodrom with a win?

Nikola Sjekloca: I have never lost to an Armenian-born boxer. I knocked out two of them while being an amateur. In 2011, I fought in Germany for the first time and beat former world title challenger Khoren Gevor decisively on points. Abraham will be number four on my list. My dream will come true!

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Here are the main quotes from today’s kick-off press conference ahead of the fight between WBO Super-Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham and Nikola Sjekloca on May 3 at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany, which will host its first ever world title fight.

Nikola Sjekloca: “I am going to dethrone the ‘King’ Arthur and take his title away. Last year, I had a competitive fight against Sakio Bika, who went on to win the WBC Belt. Now I want to win the WBO Title and unify against Bika in a rematch. I do not underestimate Abraham as I am following his career since he had his first world championship fight. I studied his style in detail and know how to beat him.”

Arthur Abraham: “To study my style by watching videos is one thing, to step into the ring against me the other. I am leaving for training camp tomorrow morning. I know for a fact that my coach Ulli Wegner will come up with the right game plan for me to be victorious on May 3. I am really looking forward to defend the WBO World Championship in my hometown of Berlin.”

Tickets for the fight night at the Velodrom Berlin, Germany are available via www.eventim.de.

Having regained his WBO Super Middleweight crown from Robert Stieglitz, ‘’King’’ Arthur Abraham (39-4, 28 KOs) will make his first title defense against Nikola Sjekloca (26-1, 8 KOs) on May 3rd at the Velodrom in Berlin, Germany.

‘’Finally, I have the WBO belt back around my waist and I don’t plan on giving it up anytime soon,’’ said Abraham, who following a short break is back in training . ‘’I gave so much blood, sweat and tears for my last fight – and it made me a world champion again. I will need to do the same to prepare for Sjekloca on May 3rd.’’

Coach Ulli Wegner: ‘’Sjekloca, has a good jab and tries to be very active. In his fight against Sakio Bika he also showed that he can take a punch, so Arthur cannot rely only on his power.

‘’If Arthur is able to put in another performance like he did against Stieglitz, he will prove that he is one of the best super middleweights in the world. He has clearly shown me that he is still ready to progress as a boxer.’’

The announcement of the world championship fight will come as good news for boxing fans in Berlin. Particularly, as it follows the postponement and cancellation of recent shows in the German capital due to illness and injury suffered by world cruiserweight champions Yoan Pablo Hernandez and Marco Huck.

‘’Following these recent developments, it was important for us to stage this world championship fight in Berlin,’’ said Chris Meyer, Managing Director of Sauerland Event. ‘’As the saying goes: the third time’s a charm.’’

Tickets for the WBO World Championship fight at the Velodrom in Berlin on May 3rd go on sale today and are available via eventim.de.

ADRIEN BRONER, WBC Lightweight World Champion

“It’s not a gimmick. It’s not fake. It’s not a game. I don’t put on a show for the cameras. You might take it as an act, but this is just me.

“Antonio DeMarco is a hell of a guy. He has a nice spirit. When we fought, there wasn’t any trash talking. This guy [Rees] comes in talking trash. People think that I’m playing [games], but I’m serious. I don’t know Gavin. I don’t even know his name. I don’t know if he’s playing. I just know I’m not.

“I don’t know this guy’s name, but he can probably tell you my middle name.

“I motivate myself. It doesn’t matter if I’m by myself or if there are 100 people around. I’m going to train my heart out.

“I’m always motivated and it isn’t about the money. I know that’s going to be there. I’m worried about my legacy. I want to be the best boxer ever. That’s why I do things that people haven’t done before.

“Watching tape is useless. You can watch me fight a million times and [when you get in the ring with me] you’ll say ‘He isn’t doing the things I saw before.’ When you’re looking over a fence, the grass looks green and when you get inside that fence, it’s brown as hell.

“Saturday night is going to be fun. I’ve been boxing for so long. I’ve seen so many styles. It takes me a round or two to adjust to a certain style. You never know what your opponent will bring to the table. People think I’m overlooking this guy, but I respect every boxer 110 percent.

“Everyone that’s fighting me knows what they are going up against. I’m the best boxer of this era.

“I’m a professional entertainer as well. I love to entertain. I love to put on a show. I’m a legal bank robber. The way I make these fights look, you don’t think I’m robbing a bank? It’s easy money.

“I know people don’t take me seriously sometimes. I was always told that if everybody likes you, then somebody’s lying. You’re going to have people that like you and some people that dislike you.

“I am going to do whatever I have to do to get the victory. I can take it to whatever level.

“If I have to take a shot to give three, I’ll do it. Name somebody who can hit me three times with a significant shot.”

GAVIN REES, Former World Champion

“I need to outwork him, out point him and make a big statement when I knock him out.

“It isn’t really personal. I’m quite calm and he disrespected me a little bit at the press conference. He [Broner] gave it to me and I gave it back to him a little bit. It’s just the type of character that he is.

“I want to give him [Broner] a smack in the mouth, but I’ll wait for Saturday night.

“We have fans coming over [from Wales]. By the end of the night, I think all of the fans will appreciate my skills and talent when I beat the next big thing in boxing.

“My dad worked in the mines when I was a young boy. He is a steal worker now. No one in my family is a boxer except for me.

“I lost six fights as an amateur. I turned pro at the age of 18, so I’ve lost seven fights in 23 years of boxing which isn’t too bad.

“Of course I’ve watched tapes of Broner. Some of his tactics he used against his opponents are baffling. He picked them apart. I’ll make sure there is movement in this fight and that he doesn’t have the opportunity to do to me what he did to them.

“He tries to get in your head and when DeMarco got in the ring, he lost his game plan.

“People keep asking me if he is the best guy I’ve ever fought. On paper he is, but we’ll determine that on Saturday night only after being the ring with him.”

NIKOLA SJEKLOCA, Undefeated Number One Rated Super Middleweight Contender

“I know that he [Bika] is very strong. I saw it online and on television. He can hit very hard. I don’t think he’s good technically.

“I think I have a lot of things to show [in the ring].

“My tactic is to box technically all the time.

“This is my first professional fight in the United States. I boxed in an amateur world championship fight in 1999.

“I only think about boxing. My expectations for this fight are huge.

“I watch tape. I’ve seen Sakio Bika fight. So has my coach. We have a game plan for him.”

SAKIO BIKA, Number Two Rated Super Middleweight Contender

“I have my new trainer, Kevin Cunningham. We’re working on different strategies. We’re working to beat this guy.

“I can win on a knockout to make people happy

“I have been boxing since I was seven or eight.

“For me, we learned a lot from that fight [against Jean Mendy in 2010]. That was the past and this is the present. Every single day you learn.

“I don’t want to do anything too crazy or rushed in this fight. I want to take my time.

“Everything we are working on, we need to bring it on Saturday night.”

# # #

Broner vs. Rees, a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBC Lightweight World Championship will take place Saturday, February 16 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, R & R Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City and Corona and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will be a 12-round WBC super middleweight title eliminator between undefeated number one rated contender Nikola Sjekloca and number two rated contender Sakio Bika.

Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

After the fallout of the Jonathon Banks – Seth Mitchell co-feature for this Saturday’s HBO World Championship boxing card featuring WBC Lightweight champion Adrien Broner battling Gavin Rees, HBO has decided iy will air the WBC Super Middleweight elimination bout between Sakio Bika and Nikola Sjekloca according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“I think it’s terrific,” said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. “It is a fight which I was hoping get televised anyway and I didn’t have a spot, but the fight had to happen [because it’s an official eliminator] so we put it on the card and it wasn’t going to be televised. Bika is a come-forward guy who makes good fights and my matchmakers tell me that Sjekloca is an exciting come-forward guy as well, so it should be a terrific fight and I am happy HBO is picking it up.”

The winner of the fight is due to become a mandatory challenger for super middleweight champion Andre Ward, already an owner of a lopsided decision win against Bika, who has won two fights in a row since that defeat.

“Obviously, since HBO is deeply invested in the 168-pound weight class, I feel this is the right spot for this fight to air,” Schaefer added.

PLUS CHARLES WHITTAKER VS. DEMETRIUS HOPKINS,

VICENTE ESCOBEDO VS. EDNER CHERRY AND

2012 UNITED STATES OLYMPIANS RAU’SHEE WARREN AND

JAMEL HERRING SET FOR UNDERCARD

ATLANTIC CITY, February 13 – After a broken thumb forced Johnathon Banks to withdraw from his February 16 rematch with Seth Mitchell, Golden Boy Promotions has announced that a pivotal 12-round WBC super middleweight title eliminator between unbeaten number one rated contender Nikola Sjekloca and number two rated contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika will move into the HBO World Championship Boxing co-main event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey before Adrien Broner defends his world title against Gavin Rees.

Plus, the stacked non-televised undercard will feature a USBA Junior Middleweight title fight between Charles Whittaker and Demetrius Hopkins, a junior lightweight bout pitting Vicente Escobedo against Edner Cherry and appearances by 2012 United States Olympians Rau’Shee Warren and Jamel Herring.

Budva, Montenegro’s Nikola Sjekloca (25-0, 7 KO’s) is a skilled boxer whose long hours in the gym and the ring are finally starting to pay off as he makes his way to the ring in Atlantic City for his first fight in the United States. A professional since 2006, the 34-year-old Sjekloca has been dominant while fighting in Europe, winning the WBC International and WBC Mediterranean titles along the way. His quest won’t be complete until he adds a world title to his resume and a win over Bika will put him one win away from that goal.

A punishing puncher whose aggressive style has stopped 21 foes in their tracks, 33-year-old Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika (30-5-2, 21 KO’s) has been among the best in the world for years, with the only thing eluding him being a world championship belt. A 2000 Olympian for Cameroon who also won NBC’s hit boxing reality show “The Contender” in 2007, Bika’s list of vanquished opponents includes Sam Soliman, Jaidon Codrington and Peter Manfredo Jr. The winner of two straight and coming off of a 10th round technical knockout over Dyah Davis last June, Bika is fired up for his February 16 showdown with Sjekloca.

Back in a fighting rhythm after a layoff of over a year, Philadelphia’s Demetrius “The Gladiator” Hopkins (32-2-1, 12 KO’s) has looked sharp in his new weight class of 154 pounds, shutting out Doel Carrasquillo and stopping Joshua Snyder in his first two fights in the division. However, the truest test of his ability to challenge the elite at junior middleweight thus far will come on February 16 when he meets up with Miami’s Charles Whittaker (39-13-2, 23 KO’s). A hard-hitting late bloomer who has won 15 of his last 16 bouts, the 39-year-old Whittaker will push Hopkins hard for 12 rounds if necessary in defense of his USBA Junior Middleweight title, but the “Killa” would love to end matters sooner than that.

2004 United States Olympian Vicente Escobedo (26-4, 15 KO’s) will make his first start since a July 2012 title fight loss to Adrien Broner on Saturday night and the 31-year-old Woodland, California native can’t wait to score a win and get back on track for another shot at a world championship. Standing in his way will be Miami veteran Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry (30-6-2, 16 KO’s), a former world title challenger at 140 pounds whose return to his optimum weight class of junior lightweight has seen him go unbeaten in his last seven bouts.

Three-Time United States Olympian Rau’shee Warren (2-0) has left the amateur game behind as he searches for professional gold and he’s off to a good start thus far wins in both of his bouts. On February 16, the bantamweight prospect will join his fellow Cincinnati native Adrien Broner on one of the most highly-anticipated cards of the year in a four-round battle against Wharton, Texas’ Richard Hernandez (0-5).

Rockville Centre, New York’s Jamel Herring (1-0) proudly represented the United States at the 2012 London Olympics and after his professional debut win over Puerto Rico’s Jose Valderrama on December 8, the lightweight prospect will seek his second victory the weekend against Carlos Lopez (4-2) of San Juan, Puerto Rico in a four-round.

In lightweight action, Toledo’s Robert Easter Jr. (2-0, 2 KO’s) will meet up with the aforementioned Valderrama (3-3, 3 KO’s) from Manati, Puerto Rico in a four-round fight and opening up the show will be Philadelphia’s Wahid Rahim (3-0, 1 KO) facing Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Ismael Serrano who will be making his professional debut.

Broner vs. Rees, a 12-round fight for Broner’s WBC Lightweight World Championship will take place Saturday, February 16 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, R & R Promotions, sponsored by Caesars Atlantic City and Corona and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. The co-main event will be a 12-round WBC super middleweight title eliminator between undefeated number one rated contender Nikola Sjekloca and number two rated contender Sakio Bika

Tickets priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable taxes and service charges, are available for purchase at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com, follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing, www.twitter.com/AdrienBroner,www.twitter.com/ChenteEscobedo, www.twitter.com/RausheeWarren, www.twitter.com/RobertEaster_Jr, www.twitter.com/JamelHerring, www.twitter.com/BoardwalkHall and www.twitter.com/HBOboxing, follow the conversation using #BronerRees or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoyBoxing and www.facebook.com/HBOboxing.