FORMER world-level operator Carlos Gongora is looking to climb the ladder back towards the top when he faces Pavel Silyagin in Belarus. The fight is live on the Boxing News YouTube page this afternoon (May 2).
The IBA PRO boxing event sees this super-middleweight pair clash over just eight rounds. Boston-based Ecuadorian Gongora shot to prominence in 2020 when he stunned contender Ali Akhmedov (16-0) with a final-round knockout. Gongora, now 35, picked up the vacant IBO title that night.
Since then, he has suffered three defeats, to Lerrone Richards (a narrow split decision loss in Manchester), Christian Mbilli and, most recently, Lester Martinez. He is now tasked with the opportunity to inflict a first defeat on Silyagin, who is unbeaten in 16, with a single draw that came in 2023 against Evgeny Shvedenko. The Russian has picked up a variety of fringe baubles across his five years as a pro and will no doubt view Gongora as a stepping-stone.
Elsewhere on the card, Russian light-heavyweight prospect Aliaksei Alfiorau is slated to appear against a replacement opponent over 10 rounds.
