The APB World Championship Matches series finished in spectacular fashion on Tuesday night in Hamburg, Germany when Mihai Nistor (ROU) stopped Erik Pfeifer (GER) to become the new APB Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion.
Nistor was the very first man in APB history to win a match in this competition, and added to his legendary status by winning his first title away from home in Pfeifer’s own country.
Pfeifer had never previously lost in APB and also defeated Nistor last year, and he controlled the opening three rounds of their rematch in efficient fashion.
The 28-year-old boxed with intensity on the back foot, while he avoided Nistor’s frequent power shots with consummate ease.
Pfeifer vs Nistor II will decide the world Super Heavyweight champion
Things began to change in the fourth round when Nistor began to hit Pfeifer with more regularity, and though the former Champion resumed his lead in the fifth and sixth rounds, he seemed vulnerable to the hooks of the Romanian.
Nistor spoke in the build-up of his intent to reduce the advantage of Pfeifer’s movement, and his tactics began to prove successful in the seventh and eighth rounds when his energy levels began to overwhelm the German.
The crescendo climaxed midway through round nine when a ferocious left hook from Nistor dropped his taller rival to the canvas.
Although Pfeifer courageously made his way back to his feet before the referee’s count had been completed, he was unable to continue due to the effect of the punch.
An emotional Nistor immediately celebrated his TKO victory, and he was awarded the Super Heavyweight title belt following his triumph.
Majestic Mihai Nistor TKOs Erik Pfeifer to win the APB Super Heavyweight Championship
A sell-out crowd is guaranteed at the Inselparkhalle Wilhelmsburg in Hamburg, Germany, for Tuesday’s AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) World Super Heavyweight (+91kg) Championship match between Germany’s reigning champion Erik Pfeifer and the Romanian challenger Mihai Nistor.
Pfeifer vs Nistor II will decide the world Super Heavyweight champion
Pfeifer remains undefeated in the ABP format, having won all four of his previous matches including an earlier victory over Nistor, and is full of confidence ahead of the first defence of the title infront of his home fans.
“I feel very happy, but I don’t feel any pressure. It’s always nice to fight at home, but I can be efficient when I fight anywhere else too!”, he said.
Blessed with lightning quick hands and a sizeable reach, Pfeifer’s rapid combination punching is a rare sight in the heaviest weight class, and he also possesses devastating one-punch knockout power in both hands.
Meanwhile, Romania’s Mihai Nistor has consistently been one of the most exciting of the APB Super Heavyweight boxers, registering an impressive win over Russia’s Magomed Omarov and producing a tactical masterclass to overcome the Morroccan Mohammed Arjaoui and set up the bout with Pfeifer.
“It is difficult to fight on my opponent’s home turf… but it just pushes me on and makes my desire to win even greater,” Mihai said.
The Romanian is one of the shortest fighters in the weight division, but he uses it to his advantage by creating unexpected angles from which to launch punches and maintaining constant movement in the ring.
“It is simple,” he continued. “I reduce the distance that they can use to their advantage by getting closer to them and working on the lower part of the body.”
Fireworks are expected in Hamburg as the outstanding champion and challenger battle it out for the coveted APB belt, and fans wont want to miss a single second of the action.
A sold out crowd in Tashkent, Uzbekistan experienced an APB title change on Saturday night, when Hurshid Tojibaev (UZE) become the new APB Lightweight (60 kg) Champion after defeating Berik Abdrakhmanov (KAZ).
This was the third title change of the AIBA World Championship Matches series, and perhaps the most one-sided as the challenger dominated the defending Champion throughout.
Hurshid Tojibaev beats Berik Abdrakhmanov on points to become the APB Lightweight Champion
The Uzbek crowd favourite had previously lost to Abdrakhmanov last January, but started their rematch in phenomenal fashion as he won the first four rounds in decisive fashion.
Tojibaev quickly took control of the center of the ring, and frequently troubled his decorated rival with sharp left hooks and outstanding reflexes.
Abdrakhmanov was previously undefeated in APB but could not respond to the constant barrage from Tojibaev, and it took until the fifth round before he was able to enjoy any success in the bout.
His momentum could not last however, and cheered on by a boisterous venue, Tojibaev retook control of the contest in the sixth round.
Tremendous head movement and a well planned defence enabled the Uzbek star to dictate the pace of the bout, while the variety of his shots was also exceptional.
Although Abdrakhmanov won the 10th round across the board, in his quest for a knockout finish he was constantly beaten to the punch in the latter stages by his dynamic opponent.
After all 12 rounds has been completed, it was the hand of Tojibaev which was raised in victory after a wide unanimous decision verdict, and he was later awarded the APB belt to the delight of his many fans in Tashkent.
Moscow, Russia was treated to one of the greatest boxing matches of the year on Friday night, where Mathieu Bauderlique (FRA) sensationally knocked out APB’s defending Light Heavyweight Champion Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI).
Rouzbahani had previously defeated Bauderlique last December, but was shocked by the energy and power from the challenger in their rematch.
After an opening round of blistering action which saw both men attack with fierce intensity, the momentum of the bout swung dramatically in the second frame.
Wearing the colours of France on his shorts, Bauderlique dropped Rouzbahani in the first minute of the round with a short left hook reminiscent of a prime Mike Tyson.
Magnificent Mathieu Bauderlique knocks out Ehsan Rouzbahani to become APB Light Heavyweight Champion
The brave Iranian returned to his feet before the count had been completed, and managed to survive the round despite a continued onslaught from the Frenchman.
Just as Bauderlique was getting comfortable, the tide turned again in the third frame when he too was knocked down following a big right hand from the resilient Rouzbahani.
Each man continued to force the pressure in the middle stages of the bout, where the defending Champion consistently snapped hard shots to the body, while the aspiring title holder continued to threaten with his lethal left hand.
Bauderlique’s previous three opponents had all failed to hear the final bell in APB, and that record advanced to four following the eighth round in Moscow, when yet another left hook heavily dropped his bloodied rival.
Just as he had before, the valiant Rouzbahani rose off the canvas, but was in no position to continue, and the referee stopped the bout 71 seconds into the eighth round.
It was a much needed knock out, as just one point separated the two fighters on all three scorecards, and the two warriors both shared their respect after the phenomenal bout had finished.
Finally, a delighted Bauderlique received his belt and officially became the second French Champion in APB history.
The APB World Championship Matches continues on Friday night in Moscow, Russia where Heavyweight (91 kg) Champion Aleksey Egorov defends his title for the first time against the number one contender Clemente Russo (ITA).
Egorov established himself as the most dominant APB Heavyweight by winning all four of his matches, and he became the Inaugural Champion after a close points win over Russo last January.
That was the second time Egorov had beaten Russo in this competition, and though each bout proved to be incredibly narrow, they both took place in Italy which makes Egorov’s victories over such an outstanding competitor even more impressive.
The 24-year-old Champion is proud of his current APB achievements, but is firmly focused on adding to his superb reputation.
“I’m looking forward to this fight. I have been training hard and I’ll be ready to succeed. My first two matches with Russo were not easy at all. The audience was very supportive to him and I had to overcome the pressure, which I eventually did,” he said.
“Fighting in Italy isn’t much different than fighting anywhere else, and I got used to it. During the second fight, I even had supporters in the Italian audience. For our third match, I never pursue knockouts but it’s an awesome way to end a match, I would not be against ending the fight with a knockout.”
For the first time in the trilogy, Egorov will enjoy home advantage against Russo, but his decorated opponent has arrived in Moscow in tremendous form.
Cycle I victories over Anton Pinchuk (KAZ) and Roman Golovashchenko (UKR) have revitalised Russo’s APB career, and after a career which has seen him earn many major honours, a pro World Championship is finally in his grap.
The Italian has won two AIBA World Boxing Championships and two Olympic Games silver medals, but believes that becoming APB Champion would be: “a great achievement for me to reach, especially because I have dedicated two years of training for it. This would be one of the most important milestones for me to accomplish.”
Aleksey Egorov defends his title for the first time against the number one contender Clemente Russo
Unlike their first two matches which took place over six and eight rounds respectively, the title match will be a 12 round battle, which the challenger is more than happy with.
“I’m not nervous about the 12 rounds. Egorov is very skillful and strong, but I’m ready to go to Russia to win,” he confirmed.
The longer distance will suit the attributes of the two athletes, as they both have tremendous stamina and train intensely all year round.
Egorov uses a pressure heavy style with plenty of jabs that allows him to control matches, while Russo’s elusive movement and fluid footwork should open gaps during the bout.
A boxing match between two world class Heavyweights is always met with keen interest, but with the prestigious APB belt adding even more cachet to this contest, the event has the potential to be one of the most captivating moments of the year.
Moscow, Russia will host two APB World Championship Matches on Friday night, including a first title defence for Light Heavyweight (81 kg) Champion Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI) against Mathieu Bauderlique (FRA).
27-year-old Rouzbahani won the Inaugural Light Heavyweight Championship earlier this year against Kennedy St. Pierre (MRI), and has excelled in APB with three impressive victories.
The Iranian star defeated Bauderlique last December over six pulsating frames, with their eagerly anticipated rematch scheduled for 12 rounds.
This fight brings together two of the biggest punchers in the Light Heavyweight division, as the powerful Rouzbahani meets a rival who has performed spectacularly in recent matches.
Bauderlique’s last three opponents have all failed to hear the final bell, after the Frenchman stopped both Nikita Ivanov (RUS) and Joseph Ward (IRE) in dramatic fashion, before his truncated Cycle I Round 2 bout with Spas Genov (BUL) was halted in the second round.
“I lost to Rouzbahani narrowly in our first bout after he took advantage following a knockdown in the 4th round, but I managed to reduce the gap throughout the fight, and that’s why a 12 round bout will be a serious advantage for me,” remarked Bauderlique ahead of his title match.
Magic in Moscow anticipated as Ehsan Rouzbahani defends his APB Light Heavyweight title against Mathieu Bauderlique
“Rouzbahani is indeed a great boxer and he’ll be ready to face me, but this bout will be different from the first because I am an instinctive boxer which everyone will see on the night. In any case, I want to win the belt, and he’ll be ready to defend it.”
Considering the power both men possess, many boxing fans are anticipating the contest to be an all-out war, but there is more to the boxers than just knockouts.
Bauderlique is an incredibly resilient fighter with a great chin and tremendous timing, while Rouzbahani has remarkable movement and one of the best jabs in APB.
Fireworks are expected in Moscow as the outstanding Champion and challenger battle it out for the coveted APB belt, and fans are advised to keep their eyes glued to the action at all times.
On Sunday night, the Foshan Nanhai Gymnasium in Foshan, China hosts the APB World Championship Matches, as Bantamweight (56 kg) Champion Khedafi Djelkhir (FRA) defends his title against Jiawei Zhang (CHI).
Boxing fans around the world can view this historic event from 19:10 (GMT +8) on https://www.youtube.com/user/AIBAproboxingTV and the event will also be broadcasted by Guizhou TV, Shenzhen TV Sports Channel and LeTV.
Djelkhir entered APB with a tremendous amount of expectation on his shoulders after earning a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, while he also amassed a perfect 16-0 record inside the professional boxing ring.
His best performances have been saved for APB, where his early triumphs over Yoni Blanco (VEN) and Robenilson Vieira De Jesus (BRA) symbolised the special talent he possesses.
After becoming the final APB Inaugural Champion last February following a brilliant victory over Alberto Melian (ARG), Djelkhir catapulted his already amazing career towards a completely new level.
Zhang represents the biggest challenge of Djelkhir’s APB career so far however, but though he will be fighting in enemy territory, the Champion is unperturbed regarding the situation.
thriller in Foshan expected as Khedafi ‘El Toro’ Djelkhir defends the APB Bantamweight title against Jiawei Zhang
“I don’t see any issue with that,” he says. “I have total confidence that the decision will be fair if it goes to the end.
“Zhang is a good boxer, I saw him during Cycle I, but I will defeat him because I will be stronger.”
A two-time Asian Games silver medalist, Zhang began his APB career with two defeats from his first three matches, before an exceptional run of form catapulted the Chinese star into the world title picture.
Cycle I victories over Benson Gicharu Njangiru (KEN) and Alberto Melian (ARG) showcased his versatility and resilience inside the ring, and he will look to utilise both of those attributes on Sunday night.
This will represent the first time either fighter has boxed over 12 rounds, and though Djelkhir has the experience in fighting over a longer round format, Zhang did not struggle at any point during his eight round bout with Melian.
The 26-year-old Chinese contender is equally excited at the opportunity to compete in front of home fans, which he believes will increase his chances of claiming the title.
“Fighting in China makes me more excited, and I believe this will help me to perform better.
“In my daily training, all my preparation is based on competing over 12 rounds, and I am focusing on specific training to compete with Djelkhir.”
Each round should produce fireworks, as both men are attacking fighters who also possess plenty of technical ability.
Djelkhir is blessed with solid power and a wickedly fast left hook, while Zhang’s body punching and movement will be sure to test the defence of his opponent.
Expect plenty of ebbs and flows throughout the contest, which has the potential to be one of the most spectacular APB World Championship Matches.
Three further matches will take place on the undercard, including Jiabin Huang (CHI) vs Yanhui Huang (CHI), Taximaimaiti Haishaer (CHI) vs Youba Sissokho Ndiaye (ESP) and Quan Yang vs Ariunbold Ganselem (MGL).
The sold out Arena Sports and Entertainment Complex in Kemerovo, Russia was treated to one of the greatest performances in APB history on Friday night, when Flyweight (52 kg) Champion Misha Aloian (RUS) delivered a boxing masterclass to retain his title against Elias Emigdio (MEX).
An elaborate and spectacular evening of entertainment had set the scene for the long awaited clash between the two fighters, and each made their way to the ring with a focused look upon their face.
Both boxers had previously met last January when Aloian won the inaugural APB Flyweight Championship over eight rounds, but Emigdio won the last two rounds of that match, and picked up where he had left off in the opening frame of their rematch, as he pressured his way to a first round lead.
It was clear to see in the opening stages of the 12 round bout that Emigdio was keen to press the action, while the Champion seemed content to box off the back-foot and exploit any openings in the Mexican defence.
Misha Aloian retains his APB Flyweight Championship with dominant victory over Elias Emigdio
Aloian, a two-time AIBA World Champion and the undoubted fans favourite in Kemerovo, was unperturbed by the fast start from his opponent, and worked into the contest by applying more control in the second and third rounds.
The supreme fundamentals from Aloian continued to impress in the middle stages of the contest, as he soaked up Emigdio’s wave of attacks with consummate ease.
Despite traveling over 7000 miles for this contest, Emigdio’s stamina remained excellent, but he simply could not tag his Russian rival, who pivoted and moved out of range with phenomenal finesse.
As loud chants of Misha reverberated around the venue, their star boxer continued to build his lead, as the strength differential between the two fighters became more apparent.
Aloian cites influences as diverse as Sergey Kovalev and Roy Jones Jr, and his remarkable footwork and clubbing shots clearly took inspiration from those two boxers throughout the contest.
Even in the last rounds of the fight, the aggression was maintained from the brave Emigdio, but the accuracy was wholly with Aloian, who used a variety of shots to further extend his advantage.
By the time the final bell had rung, Aloian had controlled over 90% of the contest, and was awarded the lopsided unanimous decision victory to considerable acclaim.
Two further matches took place on the undercard, where Karen Arutiunian (RUS) defeated Aleksandar Aleksandrov (BUL), and Spas Genov (BUL) outpointed Dzemal Bosnjak.
The APB World Championship Matches opened in style on Friday night at the Guizhou Arena in Guiyang, China, when Light Flyweight (49 kg) Champion Bin Lyu (CHI) successfully defended his title against Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ).
Lyu had previously defeated Zhakypov in APB, and looked full of confidence as he made an entertaining entrance to the ring.
Zhakypov, the 2013 AIBA World Champion, had won five matches in a row prior to this bout, but struggled in the opening round as Lyu opened up on the front-foot.
Round two followed a similar pattern to the first, where only the exemplary head movement and defence from Zhakypov enabled him to avoid damage from Lyu’s speedy shots.
Growing in confidence, Lyu began to fight with more aggression in round three, but the clever Zhakypov won his first round of the bout after he exploited the emerging gaps and sat down on his punches.
Lyu soon returned to the style which had proved so effective in the early stages, and proceeded to dominate the middle stages of the bout.
Although Zhakypov was enjoying success in the first 90 seconds of each round, he struggled to maintain his momentum in the second half, which was where his Chinese rival excelled.
APB World Championship Light Flyweight (49 kg) Champion Bin Lyu
By the time the eighth round had finished, both fighters were about to fight in unchartered waters, and though Lyu was vastly ahead on points, he was beginning to get caught by Zhakypov’s fierce bodyshots.
The 31-year-old Kazakh is a tenacious campaigner, and soaked up his fatigue by winning the ninth and tenth rounds to give himself a fighting chance of victory as the spectacular bout neared its conclusion.
Buoyed by the huge support he was experiencing inside the packed venue, Lyu stemmed the tide by controlling the eleventh round, before confirming his deserved triumph with an exceptional final three minutes of the match.
Clad in the flag of his beloved China, Lyu was awarded the unanimous decision victory on all three scorecards, much to the delight of the fans in Guiyang.
Three further matches featured on the undercard, beginning with a TKO triumph for Anton Pinchuk (KAZ) over Dragos Ghionea (ROU).
Elsewhere, Thulasi Tharumalingam (QAT) defeated Tianlong Ding (CHI) by split decision, while Yong Chang (CHI) outpointed Ilyas Suleimenov (KAZ).
LIGHT FLY 49 KG – FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER (19:10 GMT +8)
Location: Guiyang – Venue: Guizhou Arena
APB World Championship Matches begins on Friday night when Lyu and Zhakypov battle for the Light Flyweight title
The first of the eagerly awaited APB World Championship Matches will take place on Friday night at the Guizhou Arena in Guiyang, China, as Light Flyweight (49 kg) Champion Bin Lyu (CHI) defends his title for the very first time against Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ).
Boxing fans around the world can view this historic event from 19:10 (GMT +8) on https://www.youtube.com/user/AIBAproboxingTV, and will also be broadcasted by Guizhou TV, Shenzhen TV Sports Channel and LeTV.
Lyu became the Inaugural Light Flyweight Champion last February when he defeated compatriot Zhonglin Wu over eight rounds, while Zhakypov is currently on a five fight winning streak in APB.
Sublime Cycle I victories over Patrick Lourenco (BRA) and Carlos Quipo (ECU) have firmly established Zhakypov as the number one contender, and he has no issues about fighting in China, as both of those triumphs emanated from Guiyang.
Zhakypov’s lone loss in this competition came against Lyu in the very first week of action, so the 31-year-old AIBA World Champion is desperate to make amends for that defeat and claim the title.
Lyu will enjoy home advantage however and believes that the support he shall experience in the arena will help tremendously.
“Because I will defend my title at home in front of boxing fans from my country, I have a stronger motivation to win the match,” he remarked in an interview with AIBAProBoxing.com.
The first meeting between the two fighters produced six rounds of scintillating action, where Lyu convincingly outpointed the decorated Zhakypov, who is a decade older than the Chinese Champion.
“From the first fight with Zhakypov, I learnt that I need to have strong self-confidence to be successful. His strengths are that he has rich competition experience, good understanding, good timing, and he controls the distance,” said Lyu.
Ever since that initial defeat last October, Zhakypov has looked in ominous form, with his impressive body shots proving effective against both of his Cycle I opponents.
Lyu And Zhakypov Battle For The Light Flyweight title In Guiyang, China
Zhakypov’s watertight defence enable constant control of the ring, but questions remain on how he will be able to combat the exciting and aggressive style that Lyu possesses.
Accuracy and strength are two of Lyu’s biggest weapons, and his unerring discipline allows him to maintain his tactics through a bout no matter what his opponent is doing.
Unlike their first match, this key title rematch will take place over 12 rounds, a distance neither man has ever fought over competitively before.
Zhakypov may have a slight advantage having twice fought over eight rounds this year, while Lyu has not competed in APB since his triumph over Wu seven months, as he has been waiting for a title challenger to emerge.
Both men have been training hard for the match, and as neither boxer has experienced stamina issues before, the stage is firmly set for an incredible match.
Three further matches will take place on the undercard, including Anton Pinchuk (KAZ) vs Dragos Ghionea (ROU), Tianlong Ding (CHI) vs Thulasi Tharumalingam (QAT) and Yong Chang (CHI) vs Ilyas Suleimenov (KAZ).
Kemerovo, Russia, and Guiyang, China, will host the AIBA Pro Boxing Light Fly and Flyweight World Championship Matches of Cycle I on 11 September according to the match schedule below.
FLY 52 KG – FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER (20:00 GMT+7) Location: Kemerovo – Venue: Arena Sports and Entertainment Complex
A sold out crowd in Russia is set to view Aloian vs Emigdio II in the APB World Championship Matches
The Arena Sports and Entertainment Complex in Kemerovo, Russia is sold out ahead of the second of the APB World Championship Matches, between Flyweight (52 kg) Champion Misha Aloian (RUS), and the number one contender Elias Emigdio (MEX).
Boxing fans around the world can view the action from 20:00 (GMT +7) on Friday night at https://www.youtube.com/user/AIBAproboxingTV while the event will also be broadcasted by TV Boetz.
The 27-year-old Aloian arrived in APB after winning two consecutive AIBA World Championships, and soon adjusted to life in the world class pro competition with exceptional victories over Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medalist Vincenzo Picardi (ITA), and Aleksandar Aleksandrov (BUL).
Winning those matches qualified him to fight Emigdio for the inaugural APB Flyweight Championship last January, and the Russian star earned a unanimous points victory to win the title.
Although Aloian triumphed in the eight round clash, Emigdio won the last two rounds of the match, and looked the fresher fighter after the final bell had rung.
Misha ALOIAN (RUS) vs Elias EMIGDIO (MEX) APB World Championship
Recent Cycle I triumphs over Fernando Martinez (ARG) and the powerful Ilyas Suleimenov (KAZ) have given the popular Mexican essential match sharpness, where the creativity of his attacks has impressed many onlookers.
With the rematch set to take place over 12 rounds, Emigdio is confident that he has the tools to take the undefeated record of his star opponent, and claim Flyweight gold in the process.
“Myself and Aloian know each other very well, but this Mexican Aztec is training like never before. I have spent a lot of time to make this the bout of the year, and I hope that he has done the same to ensure that this war won’t be far off becoming the “Bout of the Century,” said the Mexican number one contender.
Emigdio has had to travel over 7000 miles for this bout, and Aloian will enjoy home advantage in front of his ardent fans in Kemerovo.
Blessed with a flawless record in the competition, and an iron will to win, the Russian is taking all of the plaudits and success in his stride, and is undaunted by the prospect of facing such a dangerous opponent over 12 rounds.
“I don’t feel any pressure, it’s all an adrenaline rush,” he confirms. “I’m glad I can defend my title and prove that I deserve my belt.
“Emigdio is a great boxer, and it will be a great fight. I’m really happy to box with him, because I only want to fight the best. I have never doubted my capacity to fight lots of rounds.”
This bout expertly matches the astute, defensive mastermind of the Champion vs the flamboyant, unconventional pressure of the challenger.
Aloian’s composure in the ring and expert calculation of distance will make life very difficult for Emigdio, but the experience that the Mexican has gained over the longer round distance is an invaluable tool, and he will look to firmly exploit the lack of his recent ring-time of his Russian rival.
Three further matches will take place on the undercard, including Veselinov Dimitrov (BUL) vs Marian Visan (ROU), Spas Genov (BUL) vs Dzemal Bosnjak (BIH) and Karen Arutiunian (RUS) vs Aleksandar Aleksandrov (BUL).
Misha ALOIAN (RUS) vs Elias EMIGDIO (MEX) APB World Championship
World’s top boxers face the ultimate challenge of their careers as AIBA Pro Boxing World Championship matches are announced across the world with already sold out venues.
AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) World Championships are set to ignite the boxing calendar in September with the world’s top fighters facing the ultimate challenge of their careers. Following the wrap-up of the Cycle I Round 2 matches, Champions and Challengers will meet in September to contest the 12 round APB World Championship matches.
“The entire sporting world is eagerly awaiting the APB World Championship matches which are set to produce the most spectacular boxing matches of this season. With world class talent in every weight class, fans have the opportunity to view excellent boxers compete for the APB World Title. AIBA Pro Boxing is the pinnacle of boxing, which provides a unique opportunity for pro boxers to qualify to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games” said AIBA President Dr Ching-Kuo Wu.
The defending Champions and Challengers, who will compete in APB World Championships will win a quota to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Consequently the respective National Olympic Committees will have to confirm the names of the qualified boxers to the International Boxing Association.
Heavy hitting in Germany
On 22 September in Hamburg, Germany, in a sold out venue, two titles will be up for grabs. The Super Heavyweight (91+ kg) Champion Erik Pfeifer (GER) will defend his title against multiple Romanian National Champion Mihai Nistor (ROM). The second title bout will see Artem Harutyunyan (GER) face Light Welterweight (64 kg) Champion Armen Zakaryan (RUS). In their previous fight Zakaryan was given his hardest match of the competition from the tough Harutyunyan, but battled the storm and established his ultimate dominance by winning APB World Title. The event will be broadcasted live by ProSieben Sat 1.
“I will do everything that it takes to ensure that I remain the reigning Champion in the 91+kg division. It will be a spectacular bout and I will go all out to keep my APB World belt”, said Erik Pfeifer.
His Challenger, a multiple Romanian National Champion Mihai Nistor said: “My philosophy is very simple – winners win and losers have excuses. I am definitely a winner and I know that the ring will define the true Champion of the 91+kg division in AIBA Pro Boxing. I hope the crowd will enjoy the show”.
China will root for the ‘Little Green Dragon’
APB returns to China for the key Bantamweight (56 kg) match when Jiawei Zhang (CHN) looks to give his home fans much to celebrate against the AIBA Pro Boxing Champion and Olympic silver medalist Khedafi Djelkhir (FRA) in Foshan on the 13th September.
On 11 September in Guiyang , the Light Flyweight (49 kg) APB Champion ‘Little Green Dragon’ Bin Lyu (CHN) will be defending his title against 2013 AIBA World Champion Birzhan Zhakypov (KAZ) in China.
The fights will be broadcasted by Guizhou TV, Shenzhen TV Sports Channel and Letv (internet TV).
Double pleasure for Russian fans
Kicking off on 11 September in , an incredible Flyweight (52 kg) title bout is set for Russia where undefeated Champion Misha Aloian (RUS) faces a rematch against Elias Emigdio (MEX). In the previous fight Aloian was able to outbox the dangerous Emigdio and fans around the world are now eager to see if Emigdio will be able to force his style on the defending Champion in a sold out venue.
On 18 September Russia will host two title matches in Moscow. At 91kg, the two-time AIBA World Champion Clemente Russo (ITA) will challenge the unbeaten APB Heavyweight Champion Aleksey Egorov (RUS). At Light Heavyweight (81 kg) the World Championship Match between Champion Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI) and the powerful Mathieu Bourderlique (FRA) will take place. Both fights will broadcasted by TV Boetz.
Turkish hopes
An expected 7000 fans will witness in Erzurum on 19 sept Welterweight (69 kg) Champion Onur Sipal’s (TUR) defense of his title as he will enjoy home advantage in Turkey against London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medalist Andrey Zamkovoy. The fight will be broadcasted by NTVspor in a sold out venue.
On the same day will be hosted , in a full capacity venue in Tashkent Uzbekistan a Lightweight (60 kg) title battle between Champion Berik Abdrakhmanov (RUS), and the in-form Hurshid Tojibaev (UZE), who will look to impress the home crowd.
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