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IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin will presumably make the first defense of his current reign against Polish mandatory challenger Kamil Szeremeta later this year, and the sanctioning body already has a plan to determine the next contender. IBF #4 Patrick Wojcicki and #6 Patrice Volny are set to duke it out in a November 14th final eliminator in Wojicicki’s native Wolfsburg, Germany.
Wojcicki (14-0-1, 5 KO), a 2012 Olympian who lost to the very capable Alexis Vastine in the opening round, has spent virtually the entirety of his five-year pro career in his home country, leaving only to beat Darryl Sharp on the Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Arthur Abraham undercard. He doesn’t have what anyone could call a “signature victory,” though he’s beaten a few half-decent opponents and thrice gone 12 rounds.
Wojcicki, known by fans as ‘The Wolf’, said the fight is an opportunity he has earned, and one he intends to take full advantage of.
“I have worked for this fight. I have trained hard, taken tough fights and worked with my team around me to get into a position where I’m one step away from a world title shot. My coach, my promoters, myself, we have all really worked for this, I’m not going to let that work go to waste.”
He continued, “Patrice is a fighter who has worked into this position as well. He will be confident and will see the opportunity that lies ahead, but I don’t believe he has what is needed to get past me. I’m ready for this, and I’m ready for what is next!”
Volny (15-0, 9 KO) is in a similar professional boat, just with Canada instead of Germany. He hasn’t been fighting complete bums, but Wojcicki represents as significant a step-up in competition as vice-versa.
Of the fight, Patrice Volny said “This is an amazing opportunity to box in a final eliminator for the IBF World Title, an opportunity like this is not one I could let pass. This is by far the biggest fight of my career, against a very talented opponent – so I’m training like I’ve never trained before. When he steps in the ring with me, he will soon understand why they call me ‘Vicious’.”