By Alexey Sukachev and Bill Kozloff (Allboxing.ru)
Undefeated Russian heavyweight sensation Magomed Abdusalamov (12-0, 12 KOs) is being kept quite busy despite recent refusals from some well-known prospects and contenders. Abdusalamov’s manager Boris Grinberg informed Allboxing.ru, a leading Russian source of boxing info, about two upcoming fights of Mago, who crushed all but two of his opponents in the very first round.
On February 3rd, Abdusalamov, 30, takes on fellow undefeated Cuban Pedro Rodriguez (8-0, 6 KOs), 31, in an eight-round collision of former amateur standouts; the bout is part of the ESPN Friday Night Fights series (Isaac Chilemba faces Edison Miranda in the main event).
Then the Russian kayo artist moves on to March, 17, to fight for his first professional title. Abdusalamov is penciled in to battle Brazilian journeyman Raphael Zumbano Love (31-4-1, 24 KOs), also 30, for a vacant WBC International title at the legendary Madison Square Garden. This fight will fall on the undercard of the show, promoted by Lou DiBella, which will be aired by HBO. In the featured bout of the night, universally recognized middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez defends against Matthew Macklin.
Team Abdusalamov pushed for a fight against bigger and sounder names before but insists now on being quietly ignored. Among those, who were reportedly offered a bout, are such names as Travis Walker and red hot prospect Tyson Fury.
“There were those who didn’t even try to hide their unwillingness to fight Mago, and then there were those whose demands were out of touch with reality”, commented Grinberg on the present situation.
