‘King’ Kai Robin Havnaa (14-0, 12 KOs) claimed the IBO International Cruiserweight title with a third-round stoppage victory over Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid (16-5, 13 KOs) last night at the SØR Amfi in Arendal, Norway.

In front of a capacity crowd at his hometown arena, the undefeated Norwegian star recorded his fourteenth professional win and took home his first major title with two crunching body shots sending Germany’s Rashid to the canvas.

Havnaa, the son of former WBO World Champion Magne Havnaa, becomes the first Norwegian boxer to win an international title on home soil for over forty years, and continues his quest to follow in his father’s footsteps.

“It’s a dream to win my first title, which I will place next to my father’s belt,” said Havnaa. “I know it is not as big a title as his, but it’s a good step for my career, and one day, I hope to win my father’s old belt and become World Champion.

“It was amazing to fight in front of my home fans in Arendal again. I would like to thank everybody who came to support me and I would also like to thank my promoter Nisse Sauerland for making all this possible.

“Rashid was a tough boxer and I knew I had to be at my best to beat him. We trained hard and I had a good game plan. I’m very happy with how the fight went. It was absolutely crazy to win my first title at home in Arendal!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland said: “That was a great night for Kai. The only way is up for him now. The crowd was amazing, which shows he is becoming a real star in Norway. There’s going to be a lot of exciting options for him to explore.”

Former European and WBC International Champion Katharina Thanderz earned a majority decision win over Rachel Ball on the undercard despite breaking her right hand in the fourth round of their eight-round contest.

Deniz Ilbay lost a split decision to Argentina’s Jonathan Jose Eniz for the IBO Intercontinental Welterweight belt, Hadi Srour outpointed Zoltan Szabo for his third paid win, Jamshid Nazari scored a third-round TKO victory over Reyhan Todorov and Kent Erik Badstad beat Istvan Orsos via second-round knockout.

Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0, 11 KOs) and Rad Rashid (16-4, 13 KOs) came face-to-face for the first time at a press conference today in Oslo ahead of their IBO International Cruiserweight title fight on Saturday at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

Their championship clash will be the first time in over 40 years that a male boxer has contested an international title on Norwegian soil following Harald Skog’s WBA World Light Heavyweight title fight with Victor Galindez in 1976.

Havnaa says he is motivated by the chance to claim his first professional belt, and is looking forward to fighting in front of his home fans for the second time following his stoppage win over Daniel Vencl at the SØR Amfi last year.

“It’s amazing to be fighting for my first title,” said Havnaa. “I would like to thank my promoter Nisse Sauerland for working hard to make this possible. This is a huge opportunity for me, and I will give everything to make sure I take it.

“My training has gone well and I’m in great shape. I can’t wait to walk out in front of my supporters again. It was special feeling last time, and it’s going to be even better this time. Nothing will stop me from taking home the title.

“Rad Rashid is a good boxer, the toughest I have faced. I can see that he is serious and he has come here to win, but I believe I can beat him.”

A confident Rashid had just one message for Havnaa and the Norwegian media in attendance, stating: “I’m here to fight and I’m here to win.”

The rest of the talking was left to his manager Arjan Bajrami, who said: “Rad is not a man of words, he is a man of action. He has the heart of a lion, and he is going to stop your boy. Havnaa is going to learn the meaning of pain.”

“We’re delighted to be back in Norway,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “Rashid is a dangerous opponent, but someone Kai must overcome to continue his journey to the top. Kai is already a hero in his hometown, but by winning this fight and claiming his first title, he can become a national hero in Norway.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Deniz Ilbay faces Jonathan Jose Eniz for the IBO Intercontinental title, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Rachel Ball (4-0) is relishing the opportunity to put her unbeaten record on the line against former European and WBC International Champion Katharina Thanderz (10-0, 2 KOs) as they provide chief support for Kai Robin Havnaa’s IBO International title fight with Rad Rashid on March 2 in Arendal.

Ball is a former three-time world kickboxing champion, who having switched disciplines is undefeated in her four professional contests. Her last bout, a bloody battle with Eftychia Kathopouli, was named ‘Fight Of Year’ by the British Boxing Board of Control Midlands Area, and the 27 year-old is promising another ‘war’ as she travels the North Sea to take on the undefeated Thanderz.

“I’m coming to Norway to win and that’s the only outcome I envision in my mind. If I thought any differently, I wouldn’t bother stepping in the ring,” says Ball. “I don’t make predictions on points, stoppages or TKOs, but what I do predict is an excellent showcase for women’s boxing, a brilliant fight, and a war too!

“I might look friendly but put me in a ring and I’m a different person. I’m an exciting fighter. There’s no other fighter out there who looks like me. I stand out in appearance and in the way I fight. This will be a fight you don’t want to miss!

“Thanderz has a good record. She’s fought for two titles, so she’s experienced in fighting over longer rounds. I’ve watched her fights. She’s a tough girl, and it’s going to be a great fight for women’s boxing and for the fans. Everyone at home is excited for me to fight someone as credible as Thanderz. This as a big opportunity for my career, and I’m excited to fight her.”

Having claimed multiple World titles as a kickboxer, Balls hopes to emulate this success as boxer, drawing on her past experience to fight her way to the top.

“For me, boxing was natural progression from my kickboxing career,” she says. “There wasn’t anything left for me to achieve in the sport, and I wanted a new challenge. I had two K1 fights after I won my last world title, I enjoyed it, but the plan was to go in to boxing, and the time was right when I turned pro in 2017.

“I maintain that kickboxers are tough, getting punched in the face is one thing but getting kicked in the face is another. It’s great being a multiple world champion. I’ve had a lot of title fights and gone a lot of rounds, which is great experience to bring into my boxing career, but with that said, I’m a completely different now from my kickboxing days, and from the fights I’ve had since.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Rad Rashid (16-4, 13 KOs) is confident of upsetting local hero Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0, 11 KOs) when he travels the SØR Amfi in Arendal to face the undefeated Norwegian for the IBO International Cruiserweight title on March 2.

Having also campaigned at heavyweight, Rashid returns to his preferred weight class to face Havnaa at the cruiserweight limit, and the Frankfurt-boxer believes his strength and power will prove the difference in what promises to be an explosive contest, with both men boasting impressive knockout statistics.

Rashid, known as ‘Thunder’ due his concussive punching power, has ended 13 of his 16 wins inside the distance, while the heavy-handed Havnaa has finished 11 of his 13 opponents before the final bell, including the show reel stoppage of Frank Bluemle at the Baden-Arena in Offenburg, and the sensational second-round stoppage of Daniel Vencl last time out at the SØR Amfi.

“I can’t wait for this fight. I’m looking forward to coming to Norway to face Kai Robin Havnaa in his home country,” said Rashid, the former WBO European Heavyweight title challenger. “He is a good boxer. He is tall and I can see he is in good shape, but I’m focusing on myself. I don’t think about him too much.

“I think my strength will be the difference in this fight. I am fighting like thunder when I step into the ring. At this level, everybody has the power to stop their opponents, and I know I have the power to stop Havnaa.

“I’m coming to win. It doesn’t matter to me how or when I win. The only important thing is that I win. I have been training hard for this fight. I won’t reveal what I’ve been doing, that‘s a secret, but I’ll be coming in great shape.”

Kai Robin Havnaa tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal with a historic IBO International Cruiserweight title fight against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0, 11 KOs) has signed a contract extension with Team Sauerland as the rising Norwegian star prepares for his toughest career test against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

“I’m very pleased to be signing a new contract with Team Sauerland,” said Havnaa. “I believe you shouldn’t change a winning team. We’ve had successful relationship for the last four years, and I’m looking forward to continuing our work together as we enter an exciting new chapter in my career.”

Havnaa is the son of Norway’s only male World Champion, Magne Havnaa, and has made no secret of his desire to follow in his father’s footsteps. With Team Sauerland, the 30 year-old believes he has the right promoter to take him to top, and is excited to continue this journey in his hometown on March 2.

“Team Sauerland have the experience and power to take me to the top,” he adds. “They have made many champions from the start of their careers, and that says it all. By signing this contract extension, I hope to achieve great things for many years to come, starting with another great show in my hometown.”

“We’re delighted to extend our promotional contract with Kai Robin Havnaa,” said promoter Nisse Sauerland. “We have worked with Kai from his first professional fight, and look forward to continuing our long and successful relationship. Kai has the potential to go all the way. Our aim is to make him Norway’s next World Champion. The hard work continues on March 2 as he takes his next steps towards a title against his toughest opponent to date!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour is back in the professional ring to meet Zoltan Szabo, and Kristiansand’s Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Erling Havnaa will take charge of Kai Robin Havnaa’s corner for his upcoming cruiserweight clash with Rad Rashid on March 2 in Arendal, after head coach Joey Gamache was injured in an unprovoked attack and left unable to travel.

Havnaa faces his toughest career test as returns to the SØR Amfi to headline his hometown arena, but for the first time in his career, he must enter the ring without his coach Gamache, who is currently recovering in New York.

Havnaa’s uncle Erling, who has previously worked as an assistant to Gamache, will now assume responsibility as head coach, and can draw on past experience having witnessed his brother Magne Havnaa, Norway’s only male World Champion, claim the WBO World Cruiserweight title.

“Now that Joey is unable to travel to Norway and be in Kai’s corner for this fight, I have no problem taking over this job and responsibility,” says Erling.

“With that said, to be clear, I want Joey to be Kai’s head trainer in future, and I am happy to continue my role as assistant when Kai needs me. I think Joey is one of the best trainers in the world and the best trainer out there for Kai.

“We will continue to follow Joey’s system. I don’t plan on changing too much. There will be a lot of sparring in the coming weeks, and Kai has already been doing all his running right, so he will be reaching peak shape soon. I just have to keep an eye on him to make sure he’s not overtraining.”

Erling was a constant figure in his brother Magne Havnaa’s corner and was there to see him write his name in the history books by stopping undefeated American Boone Pultz in a rematch for the WBO World title on May 17, 1990.

“For Magne’s fights, my role was to be a brother he could trust,” says Erling. “I didn’t have the same experience that I have now. He had his own trainer and a professional team around him. I helped him with some light sparring, and I was someone he could talk to and discuss different career options with.

“But all that experience is very helpful for me now. I have been in the fight game since the 80s, and having been so close to my brother during his successful professional career, there’s not much I haven’t seen before.”

While Erling admits there are similarities between his nephew and brother, he is also quick to point out their differences, but says he believes Kai has the ability to follow in his father’s footsteps and become Norway’s next World Champion.

“I see many similarities, of course, but they’re also different in many ways too. We cannot try to make Kai my brother; rather we must be honest and treat Kai as his own individual. Magne had a long amateur career, which is something Kai did not, but Kai has many strengths that are even better than my brother’s.

“It’s extremely difficult to follow in Magne’s footsteps,” he adds. “There has only been one man from Norway to have made it as World Champion, and that’s my brother, but it’s not impossible for Kai. If the motivation is there and he remains injury free, he can make it. We have a plan to get Kai to the top!”

Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid will be looking to derail Havnaa’s promising career, but Erling is confident his nephew has what it takes to overcome the German’s challenge and continue his climb to the peak of the cruiserweight division.

“I see a guy that looks strong,” says Erling. “Rashid is an experienced opponent with twenty professional fights, but I believe Kai can beat him. Kai is hungrier, and I know he will do anything to win, but this is professional boxing and when two heavy guys at a good level get in the ring, anything can happen.

“People are excited for this one. Everyone in Arendal was very happy with the last event. I know they appreciate an athlete like Kai, who is working hard and putting everything on the line in the ring. I’m expecting another great fight!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with a super featherweight contest against unbeaten Brit Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo, Anders Eggan faces Frane Radnic, and Jamshid Nazari takes on Ivica Gogosevic.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Katharina Thanderz (10-0, 2 KOs) returns from injury to face Rachel Ball (4-0) as chief support for Kai Robin Havnaa’s cruiserweight showdown with Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

Thanderz was scheduled to defend her European Super Featherweight title against Elhem Mekhaled on December 22, but suffered a herniated cervical disc in sparring, forcing her to withdraw from the contest and vacate her title.

Now fully recorded, the undefeated former EBU and WBC International Champion plans to kick-start the year with a victory over the unbeaten Brit Rachel Ball before targeting more titles in 2019.

“I’m really looking forward to fighting in Arendal on March 2. It has been several months since I was last in the ring, and I feel a huge motivation to be back again. The fact that I will be boxing in the country I was born makes it even more exciting,” says Thanderz, who currently resides Alicante, Spain.

“I was injured during a sparring session when preparing to defend my EBU title, and it was quite complicated for a while. I had to stop training completely and I was unable to spar, but I’m completely healed now. I started sparring again two weeks ago, and I feel absolutely great.

“I will be training in Spain for this fight, doing my boxing training at the Vista Gym in La Nucia with my boxing coach Jesus Labradador, and my physical exercises with Christian Marcet at Odin Athletes. We plan on bringing over two sparring partners to ensure I am one hundred percent ready for the fight. One of them is Nina Bradley from the UK, who I have trained with in the past.

“I think Rachel Ball seems like a tough fighter, and I am sure she will come well prepared to face me. She is also unbeaten at the moment, so I expect she will be hungry for victory. Nevertheless, I will be more prepared than ever, and I’m looking forward to ending the fight with 11-0 as my new record.

“My goal for the rest of the year is to have a active 2019 with several fights, get back my European Title, and then aim for some bigger belts!”

Kai Robin Havnaa returns to the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 to headline his hometown arena in his toughest career test against Rad Rashid.

Katharina Thanderz provides chief support with an eight-round super featherweight clash against Rachel Ball, Hadi Srour meets Zoltan Szabo in a six-round super lightweight contest, while middleweight Anders Eggan faces Frane Radnic over six-rounds. More undercard fights to be announced shortly.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.

Kai Robin Havnaa (13-0, 11 KOs) will face his toughest career test against Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid (16-4, 13 KOs) on March 2 at the SØR Amfi in Arendal.

‘King Kai’ is back at the SØR Amfi having blasted out Daniel Vencl inside two-rounds on February 3. A performance he followed with the show reel second-round stoppage of Frank Bluemle at the Baden Arena in Offenburg on April 28.

Havnaa must now face a significant step up as he looks to advance his promising career with a ten-round contest against the former WBU Cruiserweight Champion and WBO European Heavyweight title challenger.

“I will need to be in my greatest shape ever,” said Havnaa. “Rashid fought for the WBO European Heavyweight title in March, so I know he is going to be big, probably bigger than me, and I’ll have to be at my best to beat him.

“He’s a strong opponent. He’s experienced and looks solid. I’m expecting him to come with an ‘all in’ mentality, but with that said, you never know what you’re dealing until you start trading punches, so I’ll be prepared for everything.”

Rashid, from Frankfurt, Germany, is known as ‘Thunder’ due to his punching power, which has seen him claim 13 of his 16 wins inside the distance.

“I’m not worried about his power, but I will be aware of it,” says Havnaa. “When you’re a big cruiserweight, all punches are dangerous, but I trust my defence. I’ve been working on it a lot, and that’s why I’ve never been down in my fights.”

Havnaa will once again be counting on his fans to turn the SØR Amfi into a hometown fortress, as the 29 year-old admits he feels unbeatable in Arendal.

“I have the feeling nothing can stop me now, especially not at the SØR Amfi!

“The support I got from people in the arena last time gave me more energy and power than I ever thought possible,” he says. “I get motivated just thinking about it, and that’s priceless when you’re preparing for war. My win will be shared with everyone who’s there supporting me on March 2!”

Promoter Nisse Sauerland says this fight marks the ‘first big step up’ for Havnaa, and will provide an important acid test for the Norwegian talent.

“Kai has done everything asked of him so far in his career,” said Sauerland. “Since his professional debut, we’ve been gradually increasing the level of opposition, but this fight marks his first big step up. He will need to prove himself at this level if he wants to continue to progress. He has the talent and determination to go a long way, but now, he has to back it up in the ring!”

Kai Robin Havnaa vs. Rad ‘Thunder’ Rashid tops the bill at the SØR Amfi in Arendal on March 2 with a full supporting undercard to be announced shortly.

Tickets are available via www.ticketmaster.no or by calling (+47) 22 82 81 97.