By Alexey Sukachev

Looking for some new entries to the business of prizefighting and trying to bring different entertainment for the fans, Oleg Zhadobin of Boxing Academy is going to apply a principally different approach to promotion while staging his first ever boxing card on March 1 in Moscow, Russia.

Boxing Academy, located in Luzhniki sportive district, isn’t exactly a promotional company. It’s a boxing gym with modern infrastructure, some stellar coaches and mentors, and also curious atmosphere and corresponding style surrounding this place.

Supported by such a stalwart as Andrey Ryabinskiy (owner of “World of Boxing”), Zhadobin will try to combine prizefighting as a sport with its showbiz roots and even with its semi-criminal charm in a club-type event – an almost unprecedented approach amongst Russian boxing community. The card itself will be crowned by two title fights and a number of stellar prospects against experienced but limited opposition (though fitting at this level and stage of their development).

Leading the roster is WBA #9 rated 30-year old Kazakhstani Kanat Islam (18-0, 15 KOs) who is pitted against upset-minded Argentinean Guido Nicolas Pitto (19-3, 8 KOs) for a vacant WBA International light middleweight title.

Ethnic Kazakh Islam (originally Hanatu Silami in Mandarin) was born in Altay, China, and represented his homeland in amateur ranks. He is best known for winning bronze both in 2007 world championship (defeating future Olympic champion and his future compatriot Bakhyt Sarsekbayev) and in 2008 Beijing Olympics (with a 14-4 victory over Tureano Johnson along the way). He then relocated to his historical homeland and represented it ever since. Islam debuted as a pro in September 2009 and fought mostly in the Caribbean since then. This will be his first fight in Eurasia since moving to the paid ranks.

Pitto, 27, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, was almost unknown for the fans and experts alike until December 2012, when he stopped comebacking Dane Reda Zam Zam (27-1 at the time) in the eighth. He followed it with yet another upset, dealing the first professional loss to 2009 world champion Jack Culcay-Keth (14-0 at the time). The German avenged that loss in several months, while Pitto hit a black streak, being stopped by ex-WBO champion Zaurbek Baysangurov in April 2014.

In another minor title match-up, rarely fighting Alexander Filichkin (still 29 only) will engage local Armenian Vaginak Tamrazyan (4-1, 1 KO) for a vacant Russian welterweight title. 13-0, 4 KOs, Filichkin debuted in 2006 but fought irregularly, his career being hampered by multiple lay-offs. He has fought his last four fights in the States (going 4-0, with 2 KOs) but his last bout is dated back to June 2013.

The card will also be highlighted by several notable prospects. Islam’s compatriot Zhankozh Turarov (16-0, 11 KOs), 24, will be tested by experienced Venezuelan Franklin Varela (21-15, 10 KOs) in an eight-round light welterweight contest. Heavyweight Vladimir Goncharov (3-0, 2 KOs), a local resident and Boxing Academy coach, will try to stop Bolivian journeyman Saul Farah (52-19-3, 46 KOs), who looks very ordinary while fighting on the road. Goncharov is a Russian national champion. Another Russian heavyweight Sergey Kuzmin (1-0, 1 KOs), former European and Russian amateur champion, will continue to hone his skills against Argentinean Emilio Ezequiel Zarate (18-13-3, 9 KOs).

In quite possibly the most thrilling match-up of the night, former amateur star, who has never realized his vast potential, Dmitry Bivol (1-0, 1 KOs) will be seen fighting for the second time as a pro. Light heavyweight Bivol, 24, guided by Vadim Kornilov, crushed 25-10 Uruguayan Jorge Rodriguez Olvera in November 2014. He will now face another experienced veteran in former Russian super middleweight champion Konstantin Piternov (18-6, 9 KOs), who is coming off the first-round TKO over Alexey Stakanchikov for a vacant light heavyweight national title. He wasn’t crowned as a champion because of a little overweight.

Three more fights, including a female six-rounder, will round-up the card. The whole show will be presented for a minor, specifically picked audience. Elements of face control will be applied as well as a specific dress code for the attendees as promoters will try to re-construct somewhat specific atmosphere of club shows coupled with pugilistic entourage. The show, which is going to be broadcasted by Fight Club Russian TV channel, will also feature specifically selected ring card girls and semifinals and a final of “Battling Model” contest, where attractive bombshells are seen fighting on real boxing clashes.