Former EBU cruiserweight champ Patrice Aoussi has passed away at the age of 57 due to a stroke, reports L’Equipe. Aoussi also had cancer.
Patrice Aoussi was a very good amateur and represented France in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He then turned pro in what was a golden era for French boxing and won the EBU title in 1995 by knocking out strong Ukrainian Alexander Gurov.
He defended the title once but then lost to Gurov in a rematch. That was followed by losses to Marcelo Fabian Dominguez in a WBC world title fight and Johnny Nelson in an attempt to regain the EBU belt. Aoussi retired in 2000 with a record of 24-6.
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Italian bantamweight Alessio Lorusso (21-5-2) returns to action on September 16 in Milano where he meets Nicaraguan Ricardo Martinez.(10-9) who is riding high after his upset win over former world champ Nordine Oubaali last time out.
Lorusso lost the EBU super bantamweight title to Thomas Essomba in his last fight.
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Spanish super lightweight Sandor Martin (40-3) has been appointed official challenger for the WBC title currently held by Regis Prograis (29-1).
When and where a fight between Prograis and Martin can go ahead is of course depending if a fight between Prograis and Devin Haney, the current undisputed champion at 135, can be made.