Title clash in which on February 19th Yuri Nuzhnenko (30-1-1, 14 KOs) was expected to fight famous Italian pugilist Gianluca Branco (43-2-1, 22 КОs) for vacant EBU (European) welterweight title has been waived. As we reported earlier, Italian promotional company «OPI2000» which represents Branco won the purse bid and then the date and the venue of the fight were named by its representative.

The next logical step from «OPI2000» was to send contract to Yuri Nuzhnenko and his promoters, i.e. «K2 East Promotions», however, the Italian side did not do it.

Recently it has become apparent that «OPI2000» is not able at all to organize Nuzhnenko vs Branco title bout in due time. Thus, the fight has been postponed but what is worse (according to Nuzhnenko) there is no information about new date/venue.

Such unexpected developments became a nasty shock to Ukrainian boxer who was just about to finish his training camp when the bad news arrived. «It is very difficult for me to predict the outcome of the present situation, however, one thing I know for sure: I will not step up into the ring on February 19th. My fight against Branco for vacant EBU (European) welterweight has been postponed», – commented Nuzhnenko in his interview to Turnir.com.ua. «According to my promoters from «K2 East Promotions», at the moment my opponent Gianluca Branco faces serious financial problems. So negotiations with Branco’s team have gone to stalemate».

Yuri Nuzhnenko pointed out that the news came when he was completely ready for the fight: «There is nothing good about it – I had been training for two months before I found out that fight had been cancelled. At the moment I have no idea whom I will face in my next fight, neither know I where and when I step into the ring next time».