Demers-Zuniga off?

I just heard Zuniga pulled out with less then a week to go before the fight. :twisted:

 

Looks like Zuniga could not get a Visa in time.

I'm hoping they will make Demers-Smichet 2. That would be a good fight.

 

An important elimination bout for the vacant top spot in the IBF middleweight rankings between #8-ranked IBF contender Fulgencio Zuniga (20-2-1, 17 KOs), of Columbia and #12-ranked Sebastien Demers (25-1, 9 KOs), of Canada, scheduled to take place Friday at the Windsor Station in Montreal, has been cancelled after Zuniga was denied a visa needed to travel from his native Columbia into Canada. The bout was to be feat featured on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights”.

For Zuniga, the visa denial was the latest and most painful of a series of cancellations where potential opponents fell out for a variety of reasons, such as injury and pullouts to accept another fight. The fight with Demers was to be for the IBF International title, in addition to the #1 ranking.

To earn his world ranking, Zuniga, who is also ranked at super middleweight, knocked off – in order - tough Jose Luis Zertuche, veteran Antwun Echols, and unbeaten Russian Victor Oganov, who was 26-0, with 26 knockouts prior to their September 1, 2007 bout. Unfortunately for Zuniga, that was the last time he fought.

While no reason was given for the denial of Zuniga’s visa to enter Canada, Zuniga’s promoter, Alfredo Marchio speculates the reason is purely political. “There is nothing we can do. We submitted his application [for a visa] in plenty of time. Fulgencio can travel to the United States, no problem. But the Canadian Embassy in Columbia said that he did not meet the requirements for a visa to Canada,” stated Marchio.

“On the denial, there was a box checked that indicated that they weren’t convinced he would return to Columbia after his stay. It’s not easy getting into Canada from these countries. They’ve had problems before.” said Marchio.

“Even though he has a wife and child in Columbia, it is a poor country, and Canada is similar to the United States. We really wanted this fight, first, to make money and second, for the great television exposure it would have provided. But sometimes these things happen for a reason,” he said.

“I’ve got to get him a fight somewhere,” continued Marchio. “It’s been nearly a year since his last fight.”

Alluding to Zuniga’s immediate future, Marchio offered up this intriguing possibility: “If Jeff Lacy doesn’t fight Jermain Taylor, why not Zuniga – Taylor? Zuniga is a good match for Taylor. They both lost to Kelly Pavlik, but they are both the only fighters to knock Kelly Pavlik down. Pavlik said that Zuniga gave him his toughest fight.”

Who knows what the future holds for Zuniga? He was originally scheduled to fight Jean Pascal, not once but twice. Pascal postponed with a shoulder injury last time. This time, world title shots were dangled in front of Pascal, who is a top contender. When it all plays out, perhaps Zuniga and Pascal will finally meet in what would be a classic boxer (Pascal) – puncher (Zuniga) matchup.