July 2001 Sport News Headlines

Wednesday, July 18, 2001 - Web posted at 10:13:58 GMT

Simon to fight former World Champ
HELGE SCHUTZ

HARRY Simon's opponent for the vacant World Boxing Organisation middleweight title has been changed yet again and he will now meet the former World Boxing Council champion Hacine Cherifi of France at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Saturday night.

Simon was supposed to meet Anders Galfi of Hungary, who was only ranked 14th in Europe, but he withdrew from the fight for no apparent reason.

Simon's new opponent Cherifi, however, has a much stronger record and is expected to provide stiff competition for the vacant title.

The 33-year old Cherifi has a professional record of 31 victories of which 19 have come via knock-out, five losses and one draw.

He first challenged for the WBC Super Middleweight title in September 1997 but lost a points decision over 12 rounds against Robin Reid.

In May the following year Cherifi won the WBC middleweight title when he outpointed Keith Holmes over 12 rounds.

Cherifi successfully defended the title with a ten round points victory against Anthony Ivory in October 1998, but then lost the title after being knocked out in the seventh round in a rematch against Holmes in April 1999.

Since then Cherifi has kept busy, winning four bouts in a row before challenging William Joppy for the WBA middleweight title.

Joppy easily outpointed Cherifi over 12 rounds to retain his title, but Cherifi impressed with his durability to go the distance with the champion.

In December last year Cherifi beat Lorant Szabo on points over eight rounds.

The 28-year-old Simon recently relinquished his WBO junior middleweight title and moved up a weight to contest the vacant WBO middleweight title.

Simon, who is still unbeaten after 21 professional fights, which include 17 knockouts, does not have the experience of his opponent while it will be his first fight in the heavier category.

He has also not been as busy as his opponent over the last two years, having fought only three fights since the beginning of 2000, compared to Cherifi's six fights.

Simon's incredible hand speed and power is, however, expected to assure him victory against an opponent who seems to have passed his peak as a professional boxer.

•  Warriors not fit enough: Tom
•  Dawids, Van Wyk in showdown for chair
•  Notices Stars start training
•  Scolari in first taste
•  Benade off to Paralympics
•  Pakistan expects tri-series in SA
•  Boks make two changes