Gary Shaw and Banner Promotions Pick Up WBO Champion Sergiy Dzinziruk

It was announced earlier today in a joint statement by WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Sergiy "Razor" Dzinziruk (36-0, 22 KOs) and Universum Box-Promotion that they have agreed to part ways. The two parties had been recently having disputes over Dzinziruk's current contract, before deciding to dissolve it altogether.

"Universum and i have both agreed to part ways. We have had constructive conversations and have found a way to dissolve my contract. I am grateful to Universum fro my success in recent years and for the ability to become a professional Boxer. Under Klaus-Peter Kohl i became the WBO world Champion and i am extremely grateful to him for that. I would like to stress that the statements made about Universum and me in various media outlets in the past are false and have not originated from me personally. Universum has always been a reliable partner and is one of the world's elite promoters," the undefeated champion stated.

Universum Managing Director Stefan Braune added, "After the courts affirmed the validity of our contract, Sergiy asked that it be canceled by mutual agreement. We were able to reach an agreement about this in recent weeks. we do not want to be an obstacle to Sergiy and now wish him all the best and especially good health. We are grateful to Sergiy for the many great matches that he fought under our banner."

With that mess out of the way, Dzinziruk wasted no time in finding another promotional home.  Hours after the statement from Universum Box-Promotions is was announced that Gary Shaw Productions and Banner Promotions signed Dzinziruk to a promotional agreement.

Banner Promotions President, Artie Pelullo, announced, “I’m very excited and pleased to be working with Sergiy Dzinziruk—I think he’s the top junior middleweight in the world. Sergiy wants to come to America. He wants to fight the best opponents possible and unify the world titles. I’m also looking forward to working again with Gary. We’ve been friends for many years and have always worked well together in the past.”

“No one is safe once they step into the ring with Sergiy.  There’s a reason he’s called The Razor.  He cuts his opponents up to ribbons. He is one of the brightest lights in boxing’s most exciting division.  Artie and I have big plans for him which will include his U.S. debut this spring and setting up his base of operations in Los Angeles where will be taking screen tests.  He’s going to become an international sensation,” Gary Shaw would proclaim.

After having a highly successful amateur career Dzinziruk turned pro in 1999.  After collecting a couple of regional belts he took on Daniel Santos in 2005 in a bout where he would earn a unanimous decision as well as the WBO Junior Middleweight Championship.  Still unbeaten, he has made five defenses of his title in the past four years.  He was completely inactive for all of 2009.  His last bout resulted in a unanimous decision win over Joel Julio in November of 2008.

No official word on when his return to the ring will take place has been made.

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