By Alexey Sukachev
Main Events, led by promoter Kathy Duva, is known to be deeply associated with fighters from Eastern Europe. Its biggest star is light heavyweight kayo king and Super WBA / IBF / WBO champion of the world Sergey Kovalev. Main Events also works with heavyweight contender Vyacheslav Glazkov, light heavyweight Vasily Lepikhin and light middleweight Dmitry Mikhailenko as well as some other EE boxers.
It ain’t stopping at this point. Duva’s newest addition to her team is red hot middleweight prospect Arif Magomedov (15-0, 9 KOs) of Chekhov, Russia, by way of Kizlyar, Dagestan.
“Before our latest fight we signed a three year deal with the Main Events," announced his official representative Shamir Petrosyan, who also acts as a promoter in Moscow, Russia.
WBA #3, WBO #6 and WBC #10 rated Magomedov, 22, made his professional debut in 2013 and was a natural force ever since. By the end of his debut year he was 8-0, with 6 KOs, and already a national champion at 160lb limit. It wasn’t an easy road for the young gun. He started with a split decision win in a four-rounder, and in his fifth fight he was floored twice against 4-22-2 opponent before getting up to knock him out in the third.
Magomedov represents a local republic (a part of the Russian Federation) known for its boxing traditions. Former WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov and ex-WBA light welterweight titlist Khabib Allakhverdiev also hail from that region.
Magomedov improved significantly in 2014, going 4-0, 2 KOs, which include two wins against fellow undefeated international prospects (TKO 3 over 16-0 Alex Theran of Columbia and UD 10 versus 15-0 Australian Michael Zerafa).
Arif debuted in the States with a quality shutout win over well-fought veteran Derrick Findley in April, then cruised to the first-round TKO over more-than-capable upset artist Darnell Boone, whose 21-21-4 record spoke very little of his natural ability. It’s to be noted that the latest victory was marred by referee Russell Mora, issuing a debatable stoppage, which came way too early to some eyes.
Nevertheless, Magomedov and his team are pumped to move further ahead. According to Petrosyan, Arif’s next fight takes place on July 17 against yet another undefeated Derrick Webster (19-0, 10 KOs) in a thrilling prospect collision.