Wilder vs. Povetkin Undercard Coming Together: Bivol, Ochigava

By Alexey Sukachev

It has been proposed recently that the November 2015 fight card in Kazan, organized and promoted by Russian boxing tycoon Andrey Ryabinskiy and his “World of Boxing”, was arguably the biggest and the most encrusted fight card in Russian prizefighting history.

That was certainly a valid point back then. It’s outdated now. And the Kazan fight card is seemingly dwarfed by what is pre-planned by the same company of Russian boxing saints (say no less) for May 21 at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia. Two major title fights (including a five-star heavyweight showdown and rare cruiserweight unification), two lesser (but still viable) titles at stake as a part of the undercard and numerous local notables on display – can it be bigger at this point?

Wilder vs. Povetkin

The event will reach its undeniable climax in a heavyweight collision between reigning WBC champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) and WBC #1 and TBRB #2 rated heavyweight Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs).

Despite his impressive record and three successful (kayo) defenses of the title the American power hitter is rated just #4 by the TBRB. Wilder, 31 and nicknamed The Bronze Bomber, fought less than fifty times as an amateur, which hasn’t prevented him from becoming the last American to capture a medal honor in Summer Olympics.

Russia’s only Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist (2004 Athens) Povetkin, 36, who held WBA (regular) title in 2011-2013, will have his second title opportunity since an infamous loss to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013. Povetkin has been on a fast track ever since, going 4-0, with 4 KOs, which included memorable kayos of contenders Manuel Charr, Carlos Takam and Mike Perez. His latest outing – versus durable Pole Mariusz Wach – also ended in a TKO.

The fight will be a barnburner in Russia, being fueled both for sportive and political reasons with or without any will for that from the participants but mostly due to a poor state of USA – Russia relationship recently. Politics aside Wilder vs. Povetkin will be arguably the second most anticipated heavyweight collision just past Wladimir Klitschko vs. Tyson Fury duology.

Lebedev vs. Ramirez

Unification are getting rarer nowadays, and each of them is always a point of special interest. This is working specifically well for such rogue, as some will define, weight classes as cruiserweight. David Haye was the last to unify, when he added Enzo Maccarinelli’s WBO title to his (previously owned) Super WBA and WBC belts, and it was in 2008, effectively ending Haye / Mormeck / Bell triangle. It was for the second time in the history of this division since the golden age of Evander Holyfield in mid-80’s. Ramirez and Lebedev will work out the third attempt for major unification.

Lebedev (28-2, 21 KOs), 36, re-started his career in 2008 after four years off the ring (he was 13-0, 8 KOs, light heavyweight prospect back then). His run to his first career title shot was fast and furious as he crushed through such fighters as Eliseo Castillo, Maccarinelli and Alexander Alekseev with visible ease. His title aspirations were derailed by Marko Huck in highly controversial fashion, when the German was lucky enough to retain his WBO title on a split nod in 2010.

Controversy has been growing over the Russian banger ever since. TBRB #2 Lebedev was involved into back-to-back clashes with faded American icons Roy Jones Jr. and James Toney, both fights being met moderately by Russian boxing fans and community. When those problems had been finally dissolved, Denis was a victim of another scandal, losing a heroic 2013 FOTY candidate to Guillermo Jones on a TKO only to find out that his opponent was juiced. And then again a year later but this time – without a fight. There was no controversy in Lebedev’s activities after that as he went through both Pawel Kolodziej and Lateef Kayode and also overpowering strong Youri Kalenga to make three defenses of his title.

Just like Lebedev, TBRB #5 rated Argentinean Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs) experienced a major layoff in his career. Unlike the Russian, it has been sandwiched by two of his title reigns. Ramirez (then 13-1) firstly propelled into contention in early 2009 with the upset TKO over local favorite Alexander Alekseev, getting the WBO interim belt. He then elevated his status to a full one with a split decision over Ali Ismailov of Azerbaijan but then lost his belt to Marko Huck in August 2009.

A long lay-off followed and lasted no less than four years, when El Tyson del Abasto was practically retired. Ramirez came off the retirement in late 2013, racked up six wins (five by way of kayo) in less than a year before challenging Ola Afolabi for an interim IBF title in April 2015. Trick being repeated, the Argentinean saw his status elevated to a full one, when Cuban Yon Pablo Hernandez was forced to retire due to health issues. Ramirez’s first defense wasn’t a walk in the park as he just barely earned a draw versus the British journeyman Ovill McKenzie in their November fight.

Minor title fights

Up and coming Russian light heavyweight prospect Dmitry Bivol (6-0, 6 KOs) will have a chance to get a version of his first major belt, when he takes on Dominican Felix Valera (13-0, 12 KOs), who holds WBA Interim light heavyweight crown.

WBA #9 Bivol, 25, debuted with a stoppage win over 25-10 Jorge Rodriguez Olvera in November 2014 and has been a wrecking ball ever since, winning all of his fights against much more experienced boxers with positive records, including two wins overseas. Bivol is a two-time (2012 and 2014) Russian national champion and a multi-time junior amateur champion.

WBA #1 Valera, 28, went 12-0, 12 KOs, in his native Dominican Republic against vastly non-descript opposition before winning a sensational split decision over local favorite Stas Kashtanov (33-1 at the time) for a vacant WBA interim 175lb title last August.

Another rapid bloomer Umar Salamov (15-0, 12 KOs), who is rated #9 by the WBO, will be pitted against experienced British fighter Bob Ajisafe (16-2, 7 KOs) in the toughest fight of his career so far. Salamov, 21, a lanky banger, fought mostly in Ukraine, his best win being a decision over experienced gatekeeper Doudou N’Gumbu. Ajisafe, 31, is more experience, fighting the who’s who of British boxing, including wins over Ovill McKenzie, Dean Francis and Travis Dickinson and a close loss to Tony Bellew. A vacant IBO 200lb belt will be at stake in this fight.

Undercard

Two top cruiserweights, who have recently lost their semi-important tests, will come back to the ring to erase their bad memories.

WBC #10 rated 200lber Dmitry Kudryashov was 18-0, 18 KOs, when he ran into relatively undistinguished Nigerian Olanrewaju Durodola last November, and the terror of the division suffered a bitter setback, being blitzed in two. After somewhat intensive training sessions in the States Kudryashov is getting back against Brazilian veteran Julio Cesar Dos Santos (30-5, 27 KOs) in a scheduled ten-rounder.

Former IBO and EBU champion Rakhim Chakhkiev (24-2, 18 KOs) is also getting back. On the same card, where Kudryashov was stopped standing by Durodola, Chakhkiev lost his title to another Nigerian Ola Afolabi on a brutal kayo, his second career. Now WBC #14 Chakhkiev will see action over ten rounds against ever dangerous TBA.

Two ex-Ukrainian expatriates will also take part in the event – both against opponents, still to be defined. WBA #10 and WBC #13 super middleweight Dilmurod Satybaldiev (10-1, 2 KOs) will risk his WBA Continental title for the second time, while WBA #4 super middleweight Stas Kashtanov (34-2, 20 KOs) will be featured in a non-title eight-rounder.

Rounding up the card are cruiserweight Alexey Papin (2-0, 2 KOs) and former female amateur superstar Sofya Ochigava, who will make her pro debut. Papin will see action over eight rounds against Yuri Bykhovtsev (9-8-2, 5 KOs) of Belarus. Former two-time world and three-time European amateur champion Ochigava, who also holds a silver medal of 2012 London Olympics, will be showcased in a four-rounder against Firuza Sharipova.