Over the last few years a number of Russian fighters have either debuted on American soil or relocated to the States in search for better career opportunities. Some of them have signed deals directly with American-based manager or promotional companies. Others chose to retain links with their Russian handlers in order to develop their fan base at home while staying active and honing their skills against local opponents.
Former world title challenger Anton Novikov (29-1, 10 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, makes his ring return on December 6 in Los Angeles, California. The 26-year old Russian will face rugged Nicaraguan Santos Benavidez (23-5-2, 17 KOs) in an eight-round tune-up bout, televised as a part of the UniMas boxing show, promoted by Top Rank.
It has been reported that flyweight Brian Viloria is scheduled to fight on December 6 at the Auditorium in Glendale, Calif. Two more world title contenders have been added to that Top Rank card. Light welterweight contender Anton Novikov and lightweight contender Jose Felix Jr. will fight in separate bouts, Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman told BoxingScene.com on Wednesday evening.
Junior welterweight contender Anton Novikov (29-1, 10KOs) will return to the ring on December 6th in Los Angeles, according to the boxer's co-promoter Alexei Vasiliev of Ural Boxing Promotions, who handles the boxer with Top Rank. The card will be an UniMas televised broadcast. In his last fight, Novikov lost a twelve round unanimous decision to WBA 'regular' junior welterweight champion Jessie Vargas in August. Most saw the fight as being much closer than the scorecards would suggest.
The August 2 split-site tripleheader generated a lot of press for HBO, though almost none of it pertained to the actual matchups that aired live from Atlantic City and Las Vegas. Such was reflected in the ratings, in which the night served as an investment into the future more so than significant reason to turn in on a midsummer night. The storyline for the evening was the light heavyweight title fight showcased from Atlantic City serving as a prelude to a major clash in the fall, one that also caused a major shakeup between HBO and Showtime. Sergey Kovalev survived a flash knockdown in round one to score three knockdowns of his own in a 2nd round stoppage of overmatched Blake Caparello at the Revel Resort in Atlantic City.
Cosmopolitan Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas - WBA 'regular' junior welterweight champion Jessie Vargas discussed his recent HBO televised twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Anton Novikov, potentially facing Ruslan Provodnikov, if there are any issues having to do with making the junior welterweight limit of 140-pounds, potentially returning to the welterweight division or taking a catch-weight bout and more.
Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas - In a battle of undefeated boxers, Jessie Vargas (25-0, 9KOs) kept his unbeaten streak going with a twelve round unanimous decision win over Anton Novikov (29-1, 10KOs) to retain the WBA "regular' junior welterweight championship. 118-111, 118-111, 117-111. Most at ringside felt the fight was a lot closer. In the first four rounds, Vargas was outworking and outboxing the staking challenger. Novikv was trying to walk Vargas down, but missing with most of his punches and getting tagged often for his trouble. Vargas used his legs, moved around, but slugged when needed.
Some fighters prefer a certain style – say, straight-forward brawlers as opposed to slick movers. Jessie Vargas may or may not have an affinity for unbeaten Russian southpaws, but that’s what the Vegas native gets for his second straight fight of 2014 as he faces Anton Novikov in a 12-round super lightweight title fight Saturday evening at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout serves as the chief support to a welterweight clash between Brandon Rios and Diego Chaves. Both fights will air live on HBO. Vargas (24-0, 9KOs) makes the first defense of the belt he claimed this past April in a hard-fought split decision win over Khabib Allakhverdiev. The 25-year old struggled to make weight for Saturday’s fight, but after stripping down to his birthday suit was able to come in right at the 140 lb. divisional limit, his third straight fight at the weight class after dropping down from welterweight last year. Like the defending champ, Novikov (29-0, 11KOs) has spent the majority of his career fighting at welterweight. The 26-year old Russian came in at 139.8 lb., the lightest weight of his career. His last ring appearance was a 10-round decision win over Javier Castro in May, with his previous two fights taking place closer to the super lightweight division. Neither fighter has scored a knockout in more than two years. Novikov has been extended the distance in each of his past six contests, while Vargas has been forced to go to the cards in eight straight fights. Is another distance fight upon us? Will Novikov overcome a champion’s hometown advantage and walk away with the prize? Or will Vargas – Las Vegas’ second-ever home-grown titlist – remain the its only current champ by night’s end? Read on to see how the staff at Boxingscene.com believes tonight’s action will go down.
Anton Novikov may be an unbeaten fighter, but he is not well-known to the boxing world. He hopes to change that tonight as he challenges Jessie Vargas for his WBA junior welterweight title tonight at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, N.V. The bout will precede the 10 round main event between Brandon Rios and Diego Chaves. Both bouts, along with the Sergey Kovalev-Blake Caparello bout in Atlantic City, N.J., will be televised live on HBO. The broadcast will begin at 9:45PM ET/ 6:45PM PT.
Las Vegas ,Nevada --- (L-R) Former World Lightweight champion Brandon Rios of Oxnard,Ca. and one-time interim world champion Diego Chaves of Buenos Aires weigh in ( Rios 147 lbs, Chaves 148 lbs) for their upcoming 10-round welterweight main event , Saturday, August 2 in the Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and televised on HBO Boxing After Dark®. Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Tecate, tickets to the Rios vs. Chaves / Vargas vs. Novikov world championship event are available for purchase at www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or through Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 and www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are priced at $50, $75, $100, $150 and $200.