The Cruiserweight Rocky
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Goeppingen, Germany (February 7th, 2019)– At the age of 49, German southpaw First Arslan, 47-8-3 with 32 knockouts, Suessen, Germany, is truly the cruiserweight Rocky of the 200 pounds division. Rocky Marciano would have been a cruiserweight by today’s standards, so the term is probably appropriate for Arslan.
A former WBA world, WBO world, Global Boxing Union world, and European cruiserweight champion, Arslan will fight current International Boxing Organizaton World Cruiserweight champion Kevin Larena, 2 years his junior, for the IBO world title at EWS Arena in Goeppingen, Germany, on February 8, 2020, the oldest cruiserweight in history to challenge for a legitimate major world title (WBA-WBC-IBF-IBO-WBO).
Arslan’s career began in January 1997 in Stuttgart, Germany. He has been in the ring with Guillermo Jones, Steve Herelius, Grigory Drozd, Valery Brudov, Virgil Hill, Darnell Wilson, Rudediger May, Marco Huck, Yoan Pablo Hernandez, Sefer Seferi, and may of the best fighters of the cruiserweight division during his career. Lerena will be his most serious challenge for a world title to date, given Arslan’s advanced age. The world will be watching. In the end, if age is not the critical factor, the pertinent critical factors are self-discipline, self-mastery, hard work, personal motivation and the will to win.
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