Samir Ziani's mandatory defense of the EBU junior lightweight title against Spaniard John Carter that was set for August 13 in Marbella, Spain, is off after Carter pulled out with an injury.

New mandatory challenger for Ziani (32-3-1) is Belgian Faroukh Kourbanov (18-3) and the EBU has set August 2 as the deadline for purse bids. ;

The winner of Ziani vs Kourbanov has Carter, when hopefully back after his injury, as mandatory.

The promoter, MGZ, has salvaged the show as BoxingScene already has reported with Andoni Gago taking on Karim Guerfi in a defense of the EBU super bantam title.

........

Back in the day, in the 1970's and 80's, Rene Weller was a big star in what was then West Germany. He was one of the amateur fighters able to hold his own against the boxers from behind the Iron Curtain and was a flamboyant, colorful character known as "Pretty Rene".

In 1980 he turned pro and became one of the first stars for promoter Wilfried Sauerland and became European champion at lightweight twice. He only lost one fight during his career and that was a controversial loss due to a cut eye against Gert Bo Jacobsen in Denmark.

Weller retired in 1993 but kept active doing exhibitions and "show fights". In 1999 Weller got a long sentence for dealing drugs, and did several years behind bars. Once released it didn't take long for "Pretty Rene" to be back on his feet with boxing exhibitions, his own brand of clothes and business activities. He also appeared in reality TV shows.

For the last few years it's been quiet around the ex-champ and his wife Maria revealed why in BILD the other day: the now 67-year old suffers from dementia. What has caused the illness is an open question but getting punched in the head for decades seems like a very likely reason.

....

50-year old former WBA cruiserweight champ Firat Arslan (48-9-3) continues his quest for another world title shot when he takes on Argentinian veteran Ruben Eduardo Acosta (38-17-5) on Saturday (July 24) at his own gym in Goeppingen, Germany, with the vacant WBA International title at stake..

In the chief support Huseyn Cinkara (15-0) is in against Erdogan Kadrija (16-3) with the vacant IBO Continental title at stake also at cruiserweight.