BAKHODUR Usmonov will face Albert Pagara at the Tennis and Water Sports Palace in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on May 23. This main event, supported by a solid undercard, will run live on the Boxing News YouTube channel from 2 p.m. (BST).
The lightweight headline attraction between Usmonov and Pagara will be contested over 10 rounds for the WBA Gold title. Usmonov has compiled a 9-0 pro record on BoxRec, with four knockouts, not accounting for his two IBA PRO outings. The last of which took place in February 2024 at this same hometown venue.
Usmonov was a decorated amateur and 2024 Olympic representative (exiting in the round of 32). Filipino Pagara arrives with an impressive 35-1 record (24 KOs). ‘Prince’ Albert’s two step-ups have resulted in stoppage losses, first to Cesar Juarez and more recently to Albert Batyrgaziev in a previous IBA PRO dalliance.
Elsewhere on the card, Olympic bronze medallist Davlat Boltaev continues his heavyweight journey against Cameroon’s Zacharie Serge Mvogo Amougou.
Just over three months since their first engagement, Maxim Chernichuk goes back in with Michael King, who caused him plenty of problems the first time round. Eccentric King has made a nuisance of himself on the road (his previous visit to the RCC Boxing Academy resulted in a split draw), and this rematch should be no different.
