By Alexey Sukachev
The Punch Boxing Promotions, a newly created but steadily rising promotional outfit led by Muscovite Armenian Aram Davtyan, is a power to be reckoned with on the Moscow fight scene.
On March 17 Davtyan and his team will present another installment of the “Fight for the Future” boxing series, which will feature the best of Russian-Armenian boxing as well as some other names.
In what shall be an interesting main event, Aik Shakhnazaryan (19-2, 10 KOs) will risk his WBC International light welterweight title against dangerously punching Filipino Al Rivera (17-2, 15 KOs).
Shakhnazaryan, 23, started fighting as a pro in August 2012 and quickly evolved into an intriguing prospect with solid wins over 25-2 Alisher Rakhimov and Dominican traveler Felix Lora. When expectations were overly high, Shakhnazaryan crushed into 21-4 Abner Lopez to lose on points before being stopped in dramatic fashion by future world champion Eduard Troyanovskiy in April 2015 in what really was his fight. He is 4-0, 4 KOs, since then.
Al Rivera, IBF #12 rated 140lber, has won his last seven (over two and a half years) by knockout, which included two second-round kayos against fellow countryman Adones Cabalquinto, who was 21-0, heading into their first fight, and a stoppage win over Shinya Iwabuchi, which brought him the OPBF title.
In the other title fight, a vacant WBC International Silver light welterweight title will be contested in a heated collision of two undefeated pretenders Manvel Sargsyan (15-0, 9 KOs) and Evgueny Pavko (15-0-1, 10 KOs). Pavko is 15-0 since a draw in his debut and is best known for his road TKO 1 over 10-0 Ayaz Hussain in Quebec, Canada, the last year.
Vahe Sarukhanyan (15-1-1, 3 KOs), arguably PBP’s biggest talent, will warm up against relatively unknown Mexican Giovanni Straffon (13-1-1, 8 KOs) over eight in lightweight division.
Road warrior Alexey Evchenko (13-10-1, 6 KOs), who is on a four-fight winning streak, will look for an upset win in a fight against unbeaten welterweight Islam Dumanov (6-0, 4 KOs), scheduled for eight.
Other Fights
Vladimir Sarukhanyan (4-0, 2 KOs) vs. TBA – eight rounds
Grigory Gafarov (5-0, 1 KO) vs. Vazir Tamoyan (7-1-1, 3 KOs) – six rounds, welterweights
Yerzhan Zalilov (5-0-1, 2 KOs) vs. Xumoyun Rustamov (0-1) – six rounds, super bantamweight
He Su Khan (4-1, 1 KO) vs. Artem Komar (3-7, 2 KOs) – six rounds, welterweights
The show starts at 6 PM LT at the KRC Arbat, Moscow.
