By Alexey Sukachev

On May 21 another WBA “Super” champion will be defined, as its “regular” cruiserweight owner Denis Lebedev (28-2, 21 KOs) will collide with the IBF champion Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs) for a unified 200-pound regalia.

As the 'regular' version of the WBA hardware will become vacant (unless a draw happens in Lebedev vs. Ramirez, which is always unlikely), a vacancy will have to be filled in. Tonight, the contestants for the black belt were named: France-based Congolese Youri Kayembre Kalenga and Cuban Yunier Dorticos. The fight is about to take place on May 20 in Paris, France.

WBA #3 (and also WBO #9 and WBC/IBF/TBRB #10) rated cruiserweight Kalenga (22-2, 15 KOs) was previously an interim owner of the belt, having defended it twice – against Pole Mateusz Masternak and Canadian Denton Daley. He tried to unify the WBA belt at least locally but lost to the reigning champion Denis Lebedev in a spirited and close fight last April.

Former Cuban amateur star Yunier Dorticos is 20-0, with 19 KOs, but he is largely untested at this level. His best wins are over Colombian fighters: Fulgencio Zuniga, Epifanio Mendoza, and Edison Miranda.