UZBEKISTAN puncher Shohjahon Ergashev has withdrawn from his scheduled fight with Hovhannes Bachkov on the IBA PRO 7 card. South Africa’s Xolisani Ndongeni has stepped in to take his place in a 10-rounder for the IBA Pro Intercontinental super-lightweight title and the WBA Continental super-lightweight belt.
Ndongeni has dependable form at world level and represents a solid replacement opponent for heavy-handed Armenian Bachkov, 7-0 (6 KOs). Known as ‘Nomeva The Wasp’, the Cape Town import has gone the 10-round distance with Devin Haney and Raymond Muratalla. In his last contest, Ndogeni travelled to Puerto Rico to upset 23-0 Nestor Bravo.
The main event at the Rixos Tersane Istanbul sees Albert Batygaziev take on Liverpool’s James ‘Jazza’ Dickens in a WBA Interim super-featherweight title clash. The card includes a cruiserweight debut for Ahmad Mustafayev and a bareknuckle brawl between Turkish star Murat ‘Lord Pitbull’ Kazgan and USA veteran Will ‘The Kill’ Chope. Elnur Suleymanov also features in a BKB battle.
The talent extends beyond the ring as well. A host of well-known names will be in attendance for the show, including Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, as hopes for a potential fight gather pace. Stars Will Smith and Naomi Campbell will also be in attendance, alongside Roy Jones Jr, Terence Crawford and many more.
