Fai Phannarai, world champion of the WBF and WIBF federations, wants to make herself the new number two in the world with a victory over the Australian on October 3.
After her victories against Danielle Bennett (7-2-0) of the USA and Maria Magdalena Rivera (14-6-3) of Argentina, champion Fai Phannarai (15-0, 6 knockouts) is once again putting her two WBF and WIBF world titles on the line in the Superbantam. The 24-year-old from the “Boxen im Norden” stable in Hamburg will face Australian Shannon “Shotgun” O’Connell (24-7-1, 12 knockouts) on October 3.
Phannarai’s goal: to reach first place in Europe and second place in the world with a victory in the 55.225 kilogram limit. The Thai-born fighter is currently ranked sixth in the worldwide “BoxRec” rankings. Only Ellie Scotney from England (fourth place), who holds the IBF and WBO world championship belts, is ranked ahead of her in Europe.
“That’s a very high risk against O’Connell,” says Phannarai’s promoter Thomas Nissen. And points to the numerous title fights that the 41-year-old Australian has successfully contested. Nissen: “Such a fight pairing is much more valuable in terms of world rank than an abstract vacant belt from some other association.”
Kiwitt, Frank and Co. also in the ring
WBF world champion Freddy Kiwitt (26-3-0, 16 knockouts) defends his half-middleweight title in a 12-round fight against the strong Congolese Sumbu Nsasi (14-3-1, 10 knockouts). The event offers further highlights with the unexpected comeback of Angelo Frank (15-2-0, 9 knockouts) – the Hamburg native is contesting a 12-round WBF middleweight world championship against knockout king Evander Castillo (15-1-0, 14 knockouts) from Venezuela – and the professional debut of Olympic and Bundesliga boxer Kevin Boakye-Schumann.
Alexander Pavlov (21-4-0, 15 knockouts) will box a 6-rounder at middleweight just two weeks after his unfortunate T.K.O. defeat in Berlin against Etinosa Oliha. In addition, Denis Krieger (15-13-2) and Carlos Angeles (9-0-0) will compete in a highly anticipated 6-round all-or-nothing fight in the middleweight division.
Official weighing in the “Ritze”
The obligatory setting for the boxing event at “Große Freiheit 36” in Hamburg-St. Pauli includes live acts in the rock & soul categories with pop star Ramon Roselly. The official weigh-in will take place on October 2 (3 p.m.) in the boxing ring of the cult pub “Zur Ritze” (Reeperbahn 140).
Admission is on the “Day of German Unity”, October 3, at 3.30 pm at “Große Freiheit 36”. The box office may open with remaining tickets from 3.00 pm. Press representatives and VIP guests should report to the press desk between 3.00 and 3.30 pm.
The TV stations NDR and TV Hamburg 1 will accompany the boxing event with preliminary reports and clips.
Text: Press release / Boxing in the North