January 7, 2008
OSAKA, JAPAN
A WBA/WBC bantam title twinbill will take place in Osaka, Japan, on this coming Thursday. WBA champ Wladimir Sidorenko (20-0-2, 7 KOs), a German-based Ukrainian, and WBC official challenger Simone Maludrottu (26-1, 9 KOs), Italy, arrived here in Osaka by separate flights last Thursday. Each started a final preparation in the second biggest city in Japan from the day of their arrival, and has enjoyed Japanese people’s warm hospitality despite a cold weather. There was a public workout of Sidorenko at 1PM and Maludrottu at 3PM yesterday (Sunday). Each was very cooperative with a long interview by Japanese press and Nippon TV.
Each stunned the press people, because each said to be already at the 118-pound class limit no less than four days before the title bout. It is good that we need not be worried about a Jose Luis Castillo case happening. Maludrottu, a handsome Italian at 29, said, “We, European boxers, make it a rule to make the weight earlier than the bout to maintain our good condition.” He looked to be able to fight even tomorrow. Sidorenko also made a similar remark. More shocking for the press was that neither showed any serious training though many people gathered for an expected public workout. Sidorenko, a modest-speaking Ukrainian at 31, kindly displayed hitting the mitt of a big trainer Valentin Silaghi, but Maludrottu showed nothing but calisthenics for ten minutes. His manager Antonio Puddu said, “Simone, a diligent athlete, has already prepared physically and mentally, so need not do any heavy training just to make the weight at this moment.” The message of the ex-European lightweight champ Tonino Puddu (65-8-1, 42 KOs), now 63, was a heavier blow to us, as many boxers here usually struggle to make the weight until before the weigh-in.
(1-7-08)