The best boxing day in history?
Chervet says goodbye, Peña hits it
Fists are flying in Bern: Boxing Day is coming up. Blick says which fights are worth watching.
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Throw everything in again: local hero Alain Chervet (l.) denies his last fight.
Emmanuel GisiHead of the sports report team
When Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are over, there is a mighty rumble in Bern: Boxing Day is on in the Kursaal in the federal city. The fact that things get tough on December 26th has a long tradition in this country. As early as 1971, Muhammad Ali, the greatest man of all time, boxed on Swiss soil on St. Stephen’s Day. However, his fight against Jürgen Blin took place in Zurich’s Hallenstadion, and at that time nobody wanted to know anything about Anglo-Saxon terms like Boxing Day. The Bernese promoter Leander Strupler can say with a clear conscience: “We are probably experiencing the most successful Boxing Day in history. The tickets were gone faster than ever, we have more inquiries than ever before.” There is a reason for this: four fights promise high tension (on Monday from 5.30 p.m. live in the stream on Blick.ch).
Alain Chervet vs Glenn Bismanos
The man with the big name says goodbye: Alain Chervet actually wanted to write the last chapter of his career in December 2021, but his hand didn’t cooperate at the time. “I didn’t want to leave without a fight,” says the nephew of boxing legend “Fritzli” Chervet to Blick. “It shouldn’t have been easy.” And so on Monday he climbed between the ring ropes one last time – for the fight against the Filipino Glenn Bismanos. “It comes full circle,” he says of his final appearance in the Kursaal. “It all started here.” It’s clear that Chervet wants to say goodbye with a win after losing three years ago against the Chinese Ju Wu at the same place. He now sees this performance very positively. “My strongest fight, even if I didn’t win it.”
Angelo Pena vs Said Chino
The other Berner, who fights in the Kursaal, still has big plans for his career. “I come to show why I’m number 1,” says Angelo Peña. The 28-year-old says it clearly: “I want to be the next Mayweather.” Big tones are part of boxing, but he still leans far out of the window with his comparison to one of the greatest in history. And he has also done a lot for his dream, his super featherweight fight against the Tanzanian Said Chino will be his sixth duel within twelve months. «No problem for me at all! I’m always ready, as far as I’m concerned, it can continue at this pace next year.” But be careful: Chino is the strongest opponent so far.
Ramadan Hiseni vs. Ismaël Seck
Ramadan Hiseni from Zurich already has more experience under his belt. In his 17th professional fight (15 wins, 1 loss) he meets the Frenchman Ismaël Seck, who has a moderate fight record with 9 wins, 7 losses and 2 draws, but has at least held his head against respectable opponents.
Gabi Balboa vs Saowaluk Nareepangsri
Keeping your head down is the keyword for Saowaluk Nareepangsri: The Thai shouldn’t be more than a build-up opponent against Gabi Balboa from Basel. After her European Championship title fight defeat against Cassandra Crevecoeur, Balboa recently beat up the Hungarian Judit Hachbold. Now it is up to the 36-year-old to gain further momentum in order to be able to realize her dream of the title next year.