Zaur Abdullaev: record, next fight and profile →
In a very controversial move, the WBC board of governors has accepted Vasiliy Lomachenko petition to fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title. A fight between mandatory challenger, Luke Campbell, and Lomachenko, has now been officially ordered for the vacant WBC belt.
With the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title now up for grabs, the team behind top-rated contender Luke Campbell has already begun making plans to fill the void. The Brit’s place as first in line is well-secured; attempting to dictate whom he faces, however, is leaving his team grasping a little too far beyond reach.
Eddie Hearn pulled off a big move last week when he signed up rising lightweight Devin Haney (21-0, 13 KOs) to a promotional agreement. Haney will make his Matchroom debut on May 25th as part of the undercard to Oleksandr Usyk vs. Carlos Takam.
In the main event of the evening, Russia-based Tajik Mukhammadkhuja Yakubov (13-0, 8 KOs) earned a methodical yet classy unanimous decision over Mexican import Emanuel Lopez (29-10-1, 13 KOs) in a tactical fight.
According to the World Boxing Council, they fully intend to order a final junior welterweight eliminator between former world champions Adrien Broner and Jorge Linares - provided they comply with the Code of Ethics, says the sanctioning body. The will also order a semi-final eliminator between Viktor Postol and Mohamed Mimoune.
Traktor Sport Palace, Chelyabinsk, Russia - Returning for the first time since July of 2017, former WBA crusierweight world champion Denis Lebedev (31-2, 23 KOs) scored a crushing third round knockout of Hizni Altunkaya (30-3, 17 KOs).
On September 8th, the Brooklyn Barclays Center in New York will be the scenario setting for a fascinating and exacting fight between Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter for the vacant WBC welterweight title on the line. Showtime will televise.
A familiar figure is back into the title mix after several years of obscurity, as former world title challenger and former two-time, two-division (featherweight and lightweight) IBO champion Daud "Cino" Yordan (38-3, 26 KOs) completely destroyed Russian lightweight champion Pavel Malikov with a devastating body shot to acquire the WBO I|C lightweight belt and, more importantly, a right to face the WBA 135lb champion, as the fight was billed the WBA lightweight title eliminator.
German Titov, and his son Alexey, are prepared for yet another huge local show, which is about to take place at the DIVS in Ekaterinburg, Russia, under RCC Boxing Promotions, on April 22. As always, the card will feature a number of competitive bouts – at least on paper – and a chance to witness a rise of a new generation of fighters.
DIVS,Ekaterinburg - Dmitry Mikhaylenko's stagnating career took another major hit, and once again in front of his supporters in Ekaterinburg, Russia, as he was dealt his third decision loss in his last four fights - this time by almost unknown prospect Islam Dumanov on a split over ten.