By Peter Lim

It isn't often that a fighter to preps for a bout against an opponent with a dismal losing record by sparring against an undefeated world-ranked contender in tiptop condition, but Mezhid Bektemirov has done just that.
 
On Nov. 14, Bekttemirov (12-0, 9 KOs) takes on William Johnson (10-32-2, 3 KOs) at the Bayou City Events Center in Houston for the vacant Texas light heavyweight title. For the last three weeks, Bektemirov, 26, has sparred with Edwin Rodriguez (24-0, 16 KOs) who will challenge Andre Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) for the super middleweight championship of the world on Saturday.
 
It will be Bektemirov's second consecutive fight for a vacant obscure belt. In his last bout, Bektemirov outpointed Randy Griffin (25-4-3, 13 KOs) over 12 rounds for the WBC United States (USNBC) title. The native of Dagestan, Russia, relocated to Houston in 2009 and has wowed Texas fans with his concussive power particularly in his left hook.
 
The card will be staged by Savarese Boxing Promotions.
 
Also on the card, 18-year-old lightweight Omar Tello (3-0, 3 KOs) fights his fourth pro bout since turning pro in June. Junior welterweight Ivan Otero (11-2, 2 KOs), another a regular fixture on the Savarese stage, is also scheduled to fight.
 
Bektemirov, 26, was one of three undefeated fighters that Rodriguez recruited as sparring partners in preparation for Ward. The other two are Jonathan Nelson (18-0, 8 KOs) and Lamar Russ (14-0, 7 KOs), both of whom are scheduled to face the toughest tests of their careers. Nelson will fight on the Ward-Rodriguez undercard against Brandon Gonzalez (17-0-1, 10 KOs). Russ, a last-minute substitute for injured Willie Nelson, will fight Mathew Macklin (29-5, 20 KOs) in Atlantic City on Dec. 7.