By Alexey Sukachev and Dmitry Mikhalchuk
Avtandil Khurtsidze (22-2-2, 13 KOs), possibly the best Georgian prizefighter in the history of the sport, prepares for a homecoming for the first time in his career.
According to Elite Boxing Promotion representatives, Khurtsidze, 31 and ranked #2 by the WBA at middleweight limit, is set to fight in Tbilisi on March 12 as a part of a huge event under “Elite” aegis. Nothing is resolved yet but WBA #13 Dominican Giovanni Lorenzo (29-3, 21 KOs), 30, is a viable option and WBA interim title could be at stake.
Khurtsidze is coming off a controversial unanimous loss to the current WBA interim champion Hassan N’Dam N’Jikam in one of the most deserved nominees for the Fight of the Year trophy. N’Jikam will unify two WBA pieces of the middleweight crown early the next year against the WBA's regular champion Gennady Golovkin (if the latter is victorious in a day against Nilson Julio Tapia in his own homecoming). Lorenzo isn’t any luckier, dropping decisions to WBA super champion Felix Sturm and IBF ruler Sebastian Sylvester in a one-year span.
In a co-feature, rising light welterweight prospect Victor Postol (12-0, 8 KOs) will test his skills against experienced Frenchman Ismael El Massoudi over ten. 17-year old lightweight talent Daniyar Hanyk (7-0, 3 KOs) will also be showcased along with debuting heavyweight Dmitry Kovalevskiy.
