IBA Professional 10 returns on October 6 as Russian rivals Sergey Kuzmin and Murad Khalidov meet of their highly-anticipated IBA Professional heavyweight showdown in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Scheduled for eight rounds or much less, the match-up pits two hard-hitting heavyweight hulks towards each other in a fierce conflict of types and personalities.
“We’re thrilled to carry this combat to Saint Petersburg on October 6 with IBA Professional 10,” stated IBA President Umar Kremlev.
“Sergey [Kuzmin] is among the most recognisable heavyweight boxers in Russia; from the beginner code via to skilled, he’s a person of pedigree, expertise and high quality. Reverse him, Murad [Khalidov] is a wildcard. A harmful man who has excelled in each gloved and naked knuckle boxing: he’s a real fighter who deserves this chance.
“In boxing, something can occur – particularly within the heavyweight division. These two proud Russian warriors will ship a combat worthy of the event. Drama isn’t most popular, it’s assured.”
On-line sensation Khalidov has gained sizable momentum lately, with the Budennovsk bruiser getting back from a ten 12 months hiatus from the game and hitting the headlines with a sequence of violent, thrilling performances throughout a number of disciplines.
As soon as thought of as a future star of Russian boxing, Khalidov’s skilled journey was halted by authorized points in 2014. Returning to fight sports activities in November 2022, he shortly rose to prominence in Cage Boxing, earlier than upsetting highly-touted Uzbek prospect Khalimjon Mamasoliev through resolution at IBA Professional 6 again in Could in his first gloved boxing match in over a decade.
Khalidov would then rating a crushing second spherical knockout win over Ivan Smirnov in July, this time within the IBA’s naked knuckle code, however now has a chance to make up for misplaced time towards a recognized, world-level foe in Kuzmin.
“I’m excited for the prospect to face [Sergey] Kuzmin,” stated Khalidov.
“He [Kuzmin] has 14 wins by knockout out of 19, however that doesn’t imply something to me – as a result of I’m not just like the opponents he confronted earlier than. I’ll in all probability be his hardest opponent in his profession, with none exaggeration. Similar to he would be the hardest opponent in my profession.
“Does the truth that everybody expects a crushing KO from me put stress on me? There isn’t any stress. I by no means go after a knockout, it comes naturally. If I’m going after it, I’ll by no means discover it. I’ll work in my very own means.
When requested for his prediction on the combat, the assured Khalidov fired a menacing warning shot to his opponent, goading Kuzmin for what he labelled as “nugatory” latest performances.
“Sergey, it’s going to be very exhausting for you, so prepare! What you’ve proven in your final 3-4 fights is horrible. A horrible place, nugatory! This time it is going to be utterly completely different. However I do know that he prepares in a very completely different means, so on October 6 we are going to see one another and decide who’s one of the best heavyweight.”
After a quick – but profitable – foray into naked knuckle boxing, former world-ranked skilled Kuzmin (19-2, 14 KOs) makes his return to the gloved scene for the primary time since an eighth-round stoppage win over German Garcia Montes in July 2023.
Having shared the ring with top-level heavyweights Martin Bakole, Michael Hunter and David Worth all through his profession, Kuzmin enters the bout with Khalidov (10-0, 5 KOs, 1-0 IBA Professional) with a big expertise benefit, and the 38-year-old is trying ahead to squaring off with Khalidov on October 6.
“I don’t know how one can hype, and I don’t welcome it,” stated Kuzmin in an interview with Match TV.
“It will likely be knowledgeable boxing match – it’s a gentleman’s sport, and the ring will present all the pieces. I’m already coaching exhausting and preparing. I’ll be dealing with an ideal opponent and I’m trying ahead to our confrontation. I’m very glad that the combat will happen in St. Petersburg.”
With the bout that includes two of Russian boxing’s heaviest hitters, there is no such thing as a scarcity of nationwide bragging rights on the road. A win for both man would see them climb the IBA Professional heavyweight rankings, with IBA Professional CEO Al Siesta promising large issues for the winner of the October 6 showpiece.
“This combat is one other instance of the intention of IBA Professional,” stated Siesta.
“Two well-matched heavyweights, each combating – for not solely nationwide delight – however for an opportunity to progress within the IBA Professional heavyweight scores. Some are saying the expertise of Kuzmin might show to be decisive, however others really feel Khalidov has the ‘X’ issue – he has momentum.
“The fantastic thing about boxing is we get the prospect to seek out out who’s the higher man on October 6. The folks of Saint Petersburg can count on a spectacular night of boxing.”
