The boxing hotbed of Magdeburg, Germany, will open 2009 in a big way when two world championship fights headline the first "Universum Champions Night" of the year at Bördelandhalle on January 10th. Unbeaten WBO world light heavyweight champion Zsolt "Firebird" Erdei (29-0, 17 KOs) will defend against Ukrainian contender Yuri Barashian (25-4, 17 KOs).

At today's press conference at the Maritim Hotel Magdeburg, Erdei stated, "I was often in Magdeburg as a spectator, but now I can finally enter the ring. I am especially glad about the knowledgeable boxing fans here. Also many fans can head over here from Hungary, it's not so far away. With Yuri Barashian I have a strong opponent who has has shown his qualities against Thomas Ulrich. There will certainly be a "tough nut" that I have to crack!"

"We've already studied Barashian," Erdei's trainer Fritz Sdunek said. He is cool, smart and dangerous. But, we'll see how he is with the speed of Zsolt. It is certainly a very exciting fight!"

In the second world championship clash of the night WBO super middleweight world champion Denis Inkinen (34-0, 24 KOs) faces his stall colleague and #1 rated Karoly Balzsay (19-0, 14 KOs). This eagerly awaited duel between the two unbeatens was originally slated as an interim championship bout at the end of September, but had to be cancelled after Balzsay suffered a cut in training. Inkin defeated replacement opponent Fulgencio Zuniga for the full WBO champion after reigning champion Joe Calzaghe stepped down.

"The cancellation was very sad for me," said Balzsay today. "Of course, I'm happy that I have received a chance at the championship fight so quickly after my injury - yes, I'm finally #1 WBO and so the mandatory challenger. Denis Inkinen is a strong opponent - he is the champion. It's nice that both Zsolt Erdei and I can enter the ring at an event. I can learn a great deal from him and he supports me during the preparation!"

"This is a very close match," said Sdunek, who trains Balzsay as well as Erdei, "but I think that Karoly has very good chances. He has recently matured very much as a boxer, he has strong nerves and those dynamics can decide the fight."

Inkin's trainer Magomed Schaburow was under the weather and did not attend the press conference. However, he did speak via phone hookup. "Two hard punchers will meet," he commented, "but I just hope that both leave the ring healthy and the better one wins. It is in every case a very tough fight for both."