Zuniga-Inkin for the WBO title!!! Who wins? Vote!!

Not true at all laffie...One of his more shinning qualities is his stamina.....In the Pavlik fight his stamina and pace were other worldly...Not so much in the Oganov fight but he certainly had enough to stay dangerous...Zunigas defense isnt as bad as you imply either, he relies more on movement than a conventional defense but considering that only an active and accurate Kelly Pavlik and a solid Santos have been able to break him I would rate his defense at least at average:good

 

Inkin will be crushed

 

Heres just some news concerning the fight....also Zuniga may also fight the winner of Marquez-Abraham!!!! provided he beats Inkin of course


Fulgencio Zuniga (21-2-1, 18 KOs) gets his long-awaited shot at a world title, the interim WBO super middleweight title, this Saturday night, when he takes on unbeaten Denis Inkin (33-0, 24 KOs) at the Color Line Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Zuniga, of Barranquilla, Colombia, is ranked #13 in the WBO and #5 in the WBC, while Inkin, of Novosbirsk, Russia and now residing in Hamburg, Germany, is ranked #3 in the WBO and #5 in the IBF. The bout, which will be a part of Universum's huge Champions Night promotion, will help determine Joe Calzaghe's eventual successor as the WBO 168-pound champion.
When the WBO's top-ranked contender, Karoly Balzsay, got cut in training two weeks ago, Fulgencia Zuniga got the call to fill in as a last minute replacement. It is ironic that his title bout came about this way. After flooring eventual middleweight champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik early in their fight for the NABF middleweight title, Zuniga was eventually stopped on a cut. That was back in 2005, and Zuniga has not lost since, having beaten contenders Jose Luis Zertuche, Antwun Echols, Victor Oganov, and most recently, journeyman Elias Ruiz.

Zuniga has been clamoring for a meaningful bout ever since knocking out Oganov in nine rounds nearly 13 months ago. Several potential bouts fell through, including two with highly-ranked contender Jean Pascal, who got injured before their first scheduled bout, and then sidestepped Zuniga in order to challenge Carl Froch for the vacant WBC title in a bout that will take place on December 8 in the UK. Before that, the IBF ordered a box-off between Zuniga and Giovanni Lorenzo for a top spot in their middleweight rankings. Lorenzo agreed to the bout, but took a fight with Raul Marquez instead. As if that wasn't enough, Zuniga had to pull out of a high profile fight with Canadian Sebastien Demers due to an illness of his own.

His patience and determination to take on the top fighters has finally paid off. "I was surprised and happy to hear that Inkin wanted to fight me, and that I was given this opportunity," said Zuniga on the night before he was to travel to Germany.

Zuniga's promoter, Alfredo Marchio, had a plan after the bout with Demers fell through. Before that fight, Zuniga took ill, and then had problems obtaining a Canadian visa. When promoter Yvon Michel offered a work-around to the visa issue, Zuniga was too ill to travel.To that end, Marchio brought Zuniga to the USA last month to train in Atlantic City. With no less that eight important fights that could impact the middleweight or super middleweight divisions taking place before the end of the year, Marchio wanted to have his charge ready to go on a moments notice, should one of those fighters fall out.

Two weeks after arriving in the USA, Zuniga received an offer to spar with IBF super middleweight champion Lucian Bute in Canada, to help him get ready for his upcoming title defense against Librado Andrade on October 24, when he got the call that Balzsay got cut in training. Ideally, Zuniga could have benefited from the month of sparring he was originally scheduled for, but the opportunity to fight for an interim world title doesn't come along every day.

"I sparred with Lucian Bute for one week only. I was supposed to be there for one month more, but when I got this opportunity, it was time for me to start getting a German visa," stated Zuniga. "This was a last minute fight. My promoter Alfredo Marchio and I had no idea of this fight, but he and I decided to go for the fight against Inkin because so many fighters have been avoiding me. I could have used more advanced notice to get more sparring and training, but I feel good. I will go and fight Inkin and hope to be victorious on September 27, 2008."

Marchio states, "This fight with Inkin was made in the last week, so we could have used more time to get more sparring, and they're is never enough time for training, but this is boxing and the fighter needs to be ready when the phone rings. We will be OK and Zuniga will win."

As a last minute replacement, Zuniga is an unknown quantity to Inkin, who was preparing to fight Balzsay. Inkin, however, poses the same problem to Zuniga. "I know little about Inkin because all of his fights have been in Germany or Russia, but I saw a tape of him and he seems like a good boxer who comes to fight," said Zuniga. "I have a good amount of experience. I believe I fought some of the best fighters of today. I don't have as many fights as Inkin, but I have a lot of experience just like he does."

Zuniga is a professional through and through, and he refused to look past Denis Inkin when he was asked what he would like to do should he win the interim title. He said, "First, I must fight Inkin and win, and then hopefully we will have some other opportunities to fight the top ranked fighters in the world, wherever they are."

Alfredo Marchio, being a promoter, has no problem looking ahead, he has worked long and hard to get his fighter this shot. "If Zuniga wins over Inkin and he becomes the WBO Interim super middleweight champion, then the next step, or best scenario, would be to challenge Joe Calzaghe, the current WBO super middleweight champion for over ten years. Of course, we would have to go to Wales for that fight. That would be a great financial opportunity, and a great war with Calzaghe, who never stops throwing punches, just like Zuniga. Put in on your calendar for the "War in Wales", Calzaghe versus Zuniga in 2009," said Marchio.

Joe Calzaghe, as a longtime WBO champion was granted permission to first take on Bernard Hopkins in a light heavyweight bout, and now Roy Jones Jr. on November 8, with the stipulation that he must defend against the interim titlist or vacate the title following the bout with Jones.

Some of the important fights coming up, including Pavlik – Hopkins and Calzaghe – Jones Jr. and the aforementioned Pascal – Froch and Bute – Andrade fights, include Jeff Lacy – Jermain Taylor on November 15 and Mikkel Kessler - Danilo Haussler on October 25. Since Zuniga also holds a world ranking at middleweight (#6-IBF), there is a possibility of him facing the winner of Arthur Abraham – Raul Marquez, scheduled to take place on October 4, or the winner of prior victim Victor Oganov – Andre Dirrell, which takes place on November 1. Oganov and Direll are fighting for Zuniga's vacated IBO belt.

Zuniga finds himself fighting in his opponent's backyard, Hamburg, and on his third continent in as many months, yet he remains true to his sport and to his family back home in Colombia. In closing, he adds, "I miss my family, but I try to call them every other day. I have to fight to provide for them, and that is very important to me. I am trying to improve their lifestyle and mine, and I believe boxing will help me do that.

"I'd like to tell them that I will win and not to worry…"

 

Its a late one...10:30 EST....and I'm sure the Berto-Forbes fight will be on first