JAZZA Dickens travels to Turkey on July 2 to take on Albert Batyrgaziev in the main event of IBA Pro 7 Champions’ Night. The super-featherweight duo will be supported by a growing undercard that now includes an intriguing clash of the ungloved variety.
Turkish star Murat ‘Lord Pitbull’ Kazgan faces America’s Will ‘The Kill’ Chope in a featured attraction under the IBA Bareknuckle banner. Kazgan, 39, has a win and a loss to his name while Aussie-based Chope, 34, has three wins and seven losses. Such is the unforgiving nature of bareknuckle matchmaking that the losses can pile up quickly.
Both Chope and Kazgan have experience in the BKFC league, as well as extensive records in MMA. Notably, Chope fought Max Holloway at a UFC event in 2014. He has also competed under professional boxing rules, holding a record of four wins, three losses, and one draw.
Despite his extensive martial arts experience and international appearances, Kazgan will perform in Turkey for the first time. These two aren’t the only bareknuckle combatants on the IBA card. Russia’s Mikhail Tarabrin will also compete in Istanbul, with his opponent to be announced shortly.
Back to the Marquess of Queensberry action and in the co-main event, Armenia’s Hovhannes Bachkov, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, faces Uzbekistan’s Shohjahon Ergashev (who lost to Subriel Matias for the IBF title in 2023) in a ranking fight under IBA Pro rules at 63.5 kg.
