The second edition of the IBA.Pro series is set to take place in Chelyabinsk, Russia on 18 April with home favourite Sergey Kovalev facing Artur Mann of Germany over 10 rounds for the IBA Intercontinental cruiserweight title.

Kovalev (35-5-1) has held several world titles, including a reign from 2014 to 2016 with the WBA and IBF belts. He also held the WBO title three times between 2013 and 2019 and was named The Ring’s Fighter of the Year in 2014.

He ended the undefeated record of Colombian Eleider Alvarez in 2019 and took Mexican great Canelo Alvarez close over 10 rounds with the judges before being knocked out in the 11th and penultimate round. Mann (22-4) has competed at IBA events before, but on the losing side to Russian great Muslim Gadzhimagomedov in 2023. However, since then, he has bounced back with consecutive knockouts over Levani Lukhutashvili from Georgia and Romania’s Ion Mihai Desrobitu.

In the co-main event, Russian youngster Timur Bibilov (7-0) will be looking to make it eight knockouts in eight matches, as he faces Joshua Wasike of Kenya over 10 rounds for the WBA Asia Central heavyweight title. The 19-year-old is still fighting out of Russia but finished his first six matches before the end of the second round. He recently beat compatriot Andrey Kalyuzhnyy in the fifth round. If he makes it past the halfway line, he will be uncharted territory against Wasike (5-0) who has made himself a knockout specialist back home, doing so in four of his matches.

Sergey Lubkovich (18-0-1) and Saidjamshid Jafarov of Uzbekistan (4-1) face off over six rounds in the 71kg division. Lubkovich will fight in front of home fans and will aim to keep his unbeaten streak, having last defeated Hamis Msondo of Tanzania by knockout in August. Jafarov’s sole defeat to date came against two-time World Championships gold medallist Yoenlis Hernandez of Cuba, but he has since looked impressive against another world champion Sewon Okazawa from Japan and Dmitry Zakharov from Russia.

On the undercard, Russian Andrey Stotsky (5-0-1) meets Uzbekistan’s Madiyar Saydrakhimov (1-1) in an IBA.Pro ranking match at 90.7kg. Saydrakhimov was on the losing end against Cuban great Julio Cesar la Cruz in August but will be looking to deliver Stotsky his first loss. In November, Stotsky went to a majority draw verdict with Meysam Gheshlaghi from Iran.

Russia’s Vage Sarukhanyan (21-4-2) and Nurtas Azhbenov of Kazakhstan (15-2) are also in the IBA.Pro ranking match at 63.5kg. Azhbenov had a great warm-up to this bout last month when he defeated Dastan Saduuly from his home country by knockout in the first round. After losing to his compatriot Khariton Agrba in February 2024, Sarukhanyan bounced back by defeating Maxim Azimov by a unanimous decision in Moscow.

In the opening matches, Albina Moldazhanova will make her professional debut at 66kg against fellow Russian Nuriat Alibekova in the women’s contest; after Karen Soloviev makes his debut against Russian compatriot Islam Koloev (0-1).

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