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Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who handles IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev, is confident his boxer will overcome his mandatory defense against dangerous unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev. The fight takes place this coming Saturday night at the Khodynka Ice Palace in Moscow.
WBA/IBF cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (29-2, 22KOs) got more than he bargained for on a flight from Los Angeles to Moscow. The plane was forced to land at the Iqaluit airport due to an unruly passenger. Local authorities arrested Sisak Khudaverdyan, 36, of Armenia after Aeroflot Flight 107 landed around 1 a.m, ET. The flight continued on its way, leaving Iqaluit at around 3:30 a.m. ET, and has since landed in Moscow.
On December 2 in Moscow, an IBF mandatory final eliminator will take place between 31-year-old Russian contender Denis Shafikov (37-2, 20KO) and 29-year-old Richard Commey (24-1, 22KO) from Ghana.
On December 3 in Moscow at the Sports Palace "Megasport" Khodynka, World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev will defend his titles in a fight with undefeated compatriot Murat Gassiev.
27-year-old Russian junior welterweight Sergey Lipinets (10-0, 8KOs) will return on December 10th, when he takes one of his most experienced opponents to date, 28-year-old Australian puncher Leonardo 'Lenny Z' Zappavigna (35-2-1, 25KOs).
21-year-old Tim Tszyu, the son of former world champion at junior welterweight Konstantin 'Kostya' Tszyu (31-2, 25KO), is going to make his professional debut in December.
World of Boxing CEO Andrey Ryabinsky is making moves to stage the mandatory WBC eliminator between Alexander Povetkin and Bermane Stiverne. Ryabinsky recently outbid Don King to secure the promotional rights, with a big bid of $3.16 million. The Russian businessman is going to stage Povetkin vs. Stiverne in Russia.
It's been officially announced that Russian welterweight contender Dmitry Mikhaylenko (21-1, 9 KOs) has signed a contract to step in the ring with feared American puncher and former world champion in two weight categories, Randall Bailey (46-9, 39 KOs).
Last week, Olympic gold medal winner Oleksandr Usyk (10-0, 9KOs) reached his potential by traveling to Poland and capturing the WBO cruiserweight title with a twelve round decision over previously undefeated Krzysztof Glowacki.
As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, a date and location has been finalized for IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev's mandatory defense against dangerous unbeaten challenger Murat Gassiev.