• Raymond Joval (35-4, 16 KOs), who lost a decision to Fernando Vargas in March but has won two fights since, including an upset knockout of Shannan Taylor in Australia in November, probably will go to Germany for a March 4 bout against middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham (19-0, 17 KOs). According to Stan Hoffman, Joval's manager, Joval has been offered the fight and they are finalizing the contract. Abraham, who will be making his first defense, knocked out Kingsley Ikeke Dec. 10 to win a belt Taylor vacated before his Dec. 3 rematch with Hopkins.