Russian boxer Khariton Agrba is to meet Argentina’s Sanson Rosa for IBA Pro Welterweight World Champion title at IBA Champions’ Night in Samara on 4 November 2024. Ahead of the fight, Agrba shared his expectations and excitement that he has a chance to become one of the professional boxing elite, should he win IBA Pro title.

‘I eagerly await the fight. I have trained for two months, had a bout in September, took a week off, and now face a new challenge: the opportunity to box in Samara for the IBA Pro World Champion title. This is a tremendous opportunity and a significant step forward for me. I can’t wait to fight for the IBA Pro World championship,’ Agrba claimed.

He has set the highest goal that any professional boxer has — to become the undisputed World champion.

‘The first step, a fundamental dream from childhood, is to become a World champion. Now I have that chance, which I’m thrilled about. It’s an opportunity to showcase my skills, to present the quality of boxing that I hope will attract more attention, and to earn this much-desired title.’

Agrba prefers fighting strong opponents, as it is the only way to grow stronger yourself.

‘Rosa ranks 13th in the world according to the WBA, with an impressive record of 27-0, and has 20 knockouts — he’s a formidable boxer. We’re of the same age, young and ambitious, and he has good skills and a powerful punch. I think this will be an exciting matchup, especially since we’re headlining this IBA Champions’ Night. We intend to deliver a beautiful performance. It’s the first fight for me of this magnitude. The experience is exhilarating; I enjoy every aspect of getting ready and stepping into the ring. I understand the responsibility of this fight, but it fuels me even more. I’m excited to get into the ring and demonstrate my skills and deliver a strong performance, which I’m confident I’ll achieve.’

He went on to say, ‘I take every opponent seriously, and this one especially so, given his record. My boxing truly unfolds when I face strong opponents. With lower-level boxers, everything feels scripted; you do what you want. But against a high-level opponent, it becomes a creative process; new solutions and ideas emerge throughout the bout. Sometimes, the opponent can even reveal your weaknesses, making you reflect afterward. That’s where growth happens. I feel no nervousness, just slight anticipation — which should be there and is normal. Winning against the best has always been my drive. I want to beat the best and be the best. Boxing is art, creativity, improvisation — it’s not just my job but an artistic process that I love and from which I draw satisfaction. I plan to keep evolving.’

His path towards this title wasn’t easy, as it is never easy for anyone in boxing.

‘Every athlete’s journey to significant opportunities is often arduous. Mine has been the same — challenging but fulfilling. We go through all of this to prepare for the goal. The higher the aim, the more challenging the path. One must be careful with their desires; our ambitions are high, and we aim to climb our ladder step by step, reaching the highest results.’

Despite challenges, Agrba has never wanted to quit boxing; that thought has never crossed his mind.

‘Sure, life brings frustration — we’re all human and have emotions. But to quit? Never. Instead, I’d think about changing my mindset or my approach to training. Each test is a chance to draw the right conclusions and grow further. Every moment is crucial to one’s development.’

He recalled that when he first started, he had dominated his weight class until one day, a boy with three and a half years of training — while he himself had only one — came along and beat him in sparring. Going home, he thought about how strong his opponent was and realized he’d have to surpass him if he wanted to progress. This realization set his sights on becoming the best. Four months later, they met again in the tournament finals, and though the fight was close, he won.

Afterward, he said, he kept winning with even greater confidence. He reflected on how such challenges push you: you either abandon the pursuit or adapt and grow. He noted that, while the landscape may shift, the principle remains the same — the higher you climb, the greater the effort needed. Pausing, he added, risks defeat, which is why he constantly strives to improve. His team, he mentioned, supports him in this, and together they’re doing important work. He expressed that fighting for the IBA title is a significant opportunity to enter professional boxing’s elite and establish himself as a World champion.

‘Since childhood, I’ve loved martial arts. Like many boys my age, I watched Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan movies and dreamed of sports. I had a childhood friend who went to wrestling training, while I was unaware. One day, he jokingly challenged me to wrestle. Being stronger, I agreed. He threw me with a single move, one I’d never forget. I told him I wanted to learn, to get stronger. He replied, “Khariton, why wrestle? You have strong hands; go for boxing.” That sparked the thought. When I was eight, I decided I wanted to be a boxer. When I told my father, he brought me a tape of Mike Tyson’s best fights. Seeing Tyson’s skills and technique in the ring, I knew I wanted to be as strong as the man on the screen. I decided I wanted to be a professional boxer, and the desire to be a world champion was born then,’ Agrba recalled.

He earned his right to be the IBA title contender in a tough contest against Jose Miguel Borrego from Mexico at IBA Champions’ Night in Sochi.

‘The pivotal fights in my career stand out in my memory. One of the most important was the title contender fight in Sochi against Borrego. It was a challenge, as Borrego is a heavy hitter who forced a high tempo, typically my style. We fought the entire distance at that pace, with a tactical struggle where I ultimately outboxed him to become a title contender. This bout was tough, especially since I fought professionally in Ekaterinburg just 20 days prior. That fight wasn’t the most comfortable; I won but suffered a cut and a hit to the nose. It hadn’t fully healed my nose, which continued to bother me. The cut healed but was still fresh. This was a step I had to take, though it was risky. I’m glad we succeeded, giving me the chance to fight for the IBA Pro World Champion belt.’

‘To my opponent, I’ll say this: the game has begun; soon, I’ll make my move,’ Agrba concluded, promising a great show in Samara.

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Media contacts:

Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport

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