European title on the line in IBA Champions’ Night Ufa main event featuring Subkhankulov and Chereji
March 26th, 2024 / IBA, IBA Champions Night
Artur Subkhankulov is ready for a hero’s welcome at the Salavat Yulaev Ice Palace as he returns to his home city for the latest IBA Champions’ Night taking place 20 April 2024 in Ufa, Russia. Subkhankulov will face Romanian James Chereji in the main event for the 60kg IBA European Champion title.
The winner of the headliner will become the first recipient of the belt, but the Russian will also be looking to extend his professional undefeated streak to seven matches, having won all decisively so far. Chereji has featured at an IBA Champions’ Night previously, losing to Pavel Fedorov representing Serbia, in Serpukhov in August 2023.
Pavel Sosulin is aiming for a trio of IBA Champions’ Night victories, also competing over eight rounds against Emmany Kalombo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at 71kg. The Russian previously thwarted American Alexis Espino and Turkey’s Fatih Keles and remains unbeaten professionally. His last defeat came at the 2023 IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships to Moreno Fendero of France at the last 16 stage.
Kalombo comes in with a significant knockout record – 17 from 18 victories, with a single defeat to WBA World Super welterweight champion Israil Madrimov to his name. An opponent who will look to end the match soon rather than later, this will prove to be a strong challenge for Sosulin.
Danis Gabdrafikov is another home favorite – coming back to Ufa for the first time in his career since his professional debut three years ago. To date, the 25-year-old has won all three of his professional fights, but he faces world bronze medallist and two-time Asian Championships gold medallist Bobo-Usmon Baturov from Uzbekistan at 67kg. Baturov has lasted all eight rounds in all four of his professional bouts – but the pair will touch gloves over only six rounds ranking fight this time.
Russia’s Bekkhan Israilov is set to make his IBA professional debut against Nursultan Amanzholov from Kazakhstan in the +92kg weight category. The Kazakh’s sole professional loss came against world bronze medallist Lazizbek Mullojonov from Uzbekistan. Other six-round bouts see undefeated Gor Khachatryan representing Russia and Elnur Samedov from Azerbaijan compete at 63.5kg; and Dmitriy Zakharov of Russia take on Syrgak Abdyzhapar Uulu of Kyrgyzstan at 71kg.
Finally, Leon Antonyan, representing Russia, and Azizbek Abdugofurov from Uzbekistan are set to go over 10 rounds at the 76.2kg weight. Antonyan was victorious against Maxim Smirnov at the 2023 IBA Champions’ Night Moscow. Abdugofurov is a former WBC Silver Super-Middleweight title holder.
Check out all the bouts at night.iba.sport.
