The first "Universum Champions Night" of 2009 opens with an explosive world title doubleheader on Saturday at the Bördelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany. In the main event, unbeaten long time WBO light heavyweight champion Zsolt Erdei (29-0, 17 KOs) will defend the title against former Euro champ Yuri Barashian (25-4, 17 KOs).

"With Yuri Barashian I have a strong opponent, who is an intelligent and clever boxer and showed his quality against Thomas Ulrich," said Erdei at today press conference at the Magdeburger CINEMAXX. "I never underestimate an opponent and will not underestimate Barashian. I'm 100% prepared. He will certainty be a hard nut to crack! I've often been here in Magedeburg as a spectator, but now, finally, I can climb into the ring. I'm especially happy about the knowlegable fans and also many fans from Hungary can come over here. It's not so far away."

His trainer Fritz Sdunek added, "We've analyzed Barashian. He's a southpaw, cool, smart and dangerous – just Russian boxing school. We'll see how he manages with the quickness of Zsolt. With certainty it will be a very close fight."

The challenger said nothing to add extra fire to 'The Firebird.'

"I respect Zsolt Erdei very much," stated Barashian. "He is a great world champion, very experienced, fast, exceedingly mobile and is known as a good tactician. However, I am ready to fight, highly motivated and want to take the title from him!"

In the second world title fight of the night, newly crowned WBO super middleweight champion Denis Inkin (34-0, 24 KOs) make his first defense against #1 rated stablemate Karoly Balzsay (19-0, 14 KOs). They were to meet for the interim belt last September in Hamburg, however Balzsay suffered a cut in training. Inkin defeated late sub Fulgencio Zuniga and was crowned full WBO champion as Joe Calzaghe relinguished the WBO title.

"For this title I had to work hard and wait for a long time," commented Inkin at today's presser. "Now with my world champion's belt everything has changed. Mentally I know my strengths – I am the world champion. Karoly is a very strong opponent, but I am stronger!"

Balzsay stated, "The cancellation in Hamburg was very sad for me, but that is now forgotten. I now have this chance as the mandatory challenger for a world championship fight – I am, after all, the #1 of the WBO. I know Denis Inkin well. He's a strong opponent and he's the world champion. But I want to show everyone what I have and that I want the title!"

Adding intrigue to the matchup is the showdown between Universum trainers Fritz Sdunek (Balzsay) and Magomed Schaburow (Inkin).

Schaburow played down the trainer competition. "The trainer duel makes no difference," he said. "Fritz my role model – and in the ring will be two boxers. Denis is an unpredictable boxer who can adapt in his tactics, sometimes very quickly to my surprise. He often boxes differently than planned. In any case, it will be a very hard fight for both, but Denis comes from Siberia and there one has the "Siberian hardness" – this is another strength of Denis."

Sdunek stated, "This will be a very close, highly exciting fight. Both come from very good boxing schools, are technically very strong and have matured. This will be an explosive fight, but I think that Karoly has very good chances - he has improved steadily, has strong nerves and his dynamism can decide the fight."