PRESS RELEASE: German promoter Sauerland Event, which this month tripled its total of world title holders from one to three, plans to have all three world champions fight locally during early 2006, which means that Markus Beyer, Arthur Abraham and Nikolai Valuev will all defend their titles in Germany. The first bout is scheduled to take place in Berlin on January 28 when Beyer defends the WBC 168-pound title against Alberto Colajanni of Italy. On the same show, Sauerland heavyweight Cengiz Koc will challenge for the European championship against Paolo Vidoz. On March 4, in Oldenburg, IBF middleweight titleholder Arthur Abraham will defend his title for the first time, against TBA. Finally, WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev is pencilled in for an April defense, also against an opponent to be named later. Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer reports, "At the moment we have no exact date, but the talks with our TV partners ARD and HBO are ongoing."

Promoter Don King, reported to have co-promotional rights on Valuev wants Valuev’s next date to be in the USA, but Meyer has not agreed. "We, Sauerland Event, are the promoter of Nikolai – not Don King. I believe this is a public relations stunt by Don King."

Sauerland’s press relase says that Valuev agrees with the plan to make his first defense in Germany. "Germany is my second homeland, but it is the most important country for my career", say  the seven-foot, 324 pounder with a 44-0 record.

Sauerland also promotes European champions Sebastian Sylvester (middleweight) and Oktay Urkal (welterweight) as well as contenders Henry Akinwande (heavyweight) and Danilo Haeussler (super middleweight) "It was a very good year,” said Meyer.