Thabiso Mchunu (23-7, 13 KOs) and Russia’s two-time IBA World champion and Olympic silver medallist Muslim Gadzhimagomedov (5-0, 3 KOs) headline a breathtaking IBA Champions’ Night fight card at Moscow’s International Boxing Center on Friday, 31 January 2025. The two boxers will trade blows in a 10-round bridgerweight main event in the increasingly popular IBA Champions’ Night series.

This is one of Mchunu’s most important fights in his career since turning pro in 2007. It comes at a time when the South African boxer has lost twice in succession to DR Congo’s Junior Ilunga Makabu in 2022 and last year against Yamit Alberto Peralta of Argentina. Even his coach Sean Smith believes this is one fight Mchunu must win to redeem himself following the two consecutive losses.

‘We need a change of momentum with his career, hopefully this could be it. We enjoy fighting in Russia and hope for more exciting opportunities with a good win,’ Smith said.

What if the 36-year-old Mchunu is defeated?

‘We could go down to cruiserweight and hopefully get a big fight,’ Smith continued. ‘Otherwise, if he wins, he can rematch Muslim for the WBA Championship.’

‘That said, we wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe we had a good chance of winning,’ he continued, adding: ‘These are not easy fights to convert, so I know we will need a great performance. As professional people in boxing, we take these great opportunities to create our future. Thabiso has had successful outings and a couple of missed opportunities. We look forward to creating more good memories and achievements. He’s in good shape and I’ve enjoyed his commitment. We can do it.’

Mchunu echoed Smiths’ views ahead of his fight against Gadzhimagomedov who is the reigning WBA bridgerweight champion and unbeaten in five fights.

‘I’m always inspired to do my best and deliver to the best of my abilities, this fight at the IBA Champions’ Night is a great privilege and I’m excited to deliver a good show,’ Mchunu said making it known to his opponent that he has never lost in Russia and therefore Gadzhimagomedov should be ready for his first defeat.

‘I will win this fight, they keep making the same mistake with me in Russia because I personally perform well here and it’s my favourite boxing venue,’ boasted the South African. The two Russian boxers Mchunu has beaten at their own backyard are Denis Lebedev and Evgeny Tischchenko.

He shocked the fancied former IBF and WBA World champion Lebedev in 2019 by defeating the Russian before his home fans to capture the WBC cruiserweight silver belt, and successfully defended the title in 2021 outpointing another Russian, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medallist Tischchenko at home.

Ring analysts feel Gadzhimagomedov is favoured to outpoint the fading Mchunu despite his confidence. At 27 years, the Russian has age by his side against an opponent nine years older than him, and of course the wealth of experience he has gained at IBA Champions’ Night and in winning two IBA World Championships titles and Olympic silver medal in 2020 in Tokyo. The Russian orthodox boxer also has a reach advantage against the southpaw and shorter Mchunu. Gadzhimagomedov is known to be a very aggressive boxer with an effective left jab.

Mchunu, who is the reigning South Africa cruiserweight champion, has had his fair share of success in the ring. Making his pro debut in 2007, he outpointed compatriot Mzikayise Hlengwa and maintained an unbeaten record of 10 fights. He has won a couple of titles among them South Africa cruiserweight, WBA Pan African and WBC- NABF. Mchunu’s first defeat was at the hands of Zack Mwekasa in 2011. DR Congo’s WBC Africa cruiserweight title holder and former World champion Junior Ilunga Makabu handed Mchunu his second defeat in 2015, beating the South African again in 2022 in the USA.

Back home Mchunu remains a darling to many South African boxing fans especially in his KwaZulu-Natal Province where they are all rooting for him in his fight against Gadzhimagomedov.

Others African boxers featuring in the Moscow IBA Champions’ Night card are Nigeria’s female flyweight Ayisat Oriyomi unbeaten in nine fights and Cameroon’s light-welterweight Mouhamed Oumarou who takes on Russia’s Tamerlan Ozdoev while Oriyomi meets Kazakhstan’s Angelina Lukas in a WBA elimination fight.

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Media contacts:

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

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