Salita Expects Ergashev, Khegai To Impress in Showtime Bouts

By Francisco Salazar

Shohjahon Ergashev is making a name for himself as a junior welterweight in a vey competitive division. He hopes an impressive victory tonight will continue opening doors for late this year and in 2020.

The unbeaten fighter from Uzbekistan will take on Abdiel Ramirez at the Central Park Community Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The 10-round bout will precede the main event bout between welterweight Vladimir Shishkin and DeAndre Ware.

Both fights will air live on Showtime (10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT).

The Salita Promotions card was originally going to take place at a temporary outdoor venue on the city’s Main Street, but impending inclement weather forecasted for tonight forced the card to take place indoors.

Ergashev (16-0, 14 knockouts) last fought on Feb. 15, defeating Mykal Fox in a clash of unbeaten fighters in Mulvane, Kansas. The fight also air on Showtime on its popular ‘ShoBox’ series.

After a successful and decorated amateur career, the 27-year-old southpaw has found success as a junior welterweight, where he is ranked No. 4 by the WBA and No. 6 by the IBF.

Ergashev should defeat Ramirez (24-4-1, 22 KOs), who resides in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Ramirez has lost three of his last four bouts.

Promoter Dmitriy Salita has been impressed thus far of Ergashev’s accomplishments in the ring as a pro, but believes Ergashev still has a lot of upside. He hopes an impressive performance by Ergashev will have fight fans wanting more.

“Shohjahon is one of the biggest punchers in boxing and a real force to be reckoned with in the junior welterweight division,” Salita told BoxingScene in a recent interview. “This will be his third fight on Showtime in which I believe he will make an impressive showing.”

In the opening bout, junior featherweight Arnold Khegai (15-0-1, 10 KOs) will face Vladimir Tikhonov (17-1, 10 KOs) of Russia in an eight-round bout.

The 27-year-old Khegai, who is originally from the Ukraine and now lives and trains in Philadelphia, is also promoted by Salita.

“Khegai is a very talented junior featherweight contender,” said Salita. “Arnold’s parents immigrated to the Ukraine from South Korea before he was born. He comes from a rich school of Ukrainian boxers and also has a unique and inspiring life story. He is fighting TIkhonov. It’s two opposing styles and a must-win for both, which will be exciting from the opening bell.”

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing