By Ben Carey
Carl Johanneson will challenge Russia’s Leva Kirakosyan for the European super-featherweight title at Leeds Town Hall on July 13 and seek to overturn a shattering first round knockout suffered against Kirakosyan in Crystal Palace back in December 2004.
Johanneson has recovered well since slipping to the only second defeat of his career, winning the British crown last July and successfully defending it against Femi Fehintola (TKO6) and Ricky Burns (UD).
Kirakosyan was stopped in six rounds by Michael Gomez for the WBU crown in 2004 but his upset win over Johanneson served to kickstart his career. The 33-year-old Russian, 25-4 (19), is currently on a winning run of 11 and captured the European title vacated by Alex Arthur by stopping Joao Antonio Bento in the third round earlier this year.
It promises to be a fascinating rematch between two big punchers who are also known to be vulnerable.
