PuraVida Sports

Lausanne, Switzerland :

Undefeated Russian Olympic gold medalist Albert Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) will put his IBA.Pro and WBA Interim super-featherweight titles on the line against Liverpool’s beloved boxing star James “Jazza” Dickens (35-5, 14 KOs) on July 2 in Istanbul.

The 12-round main event headlines the IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night, marking Batyrgaziev’s first professional fight outside Russia.

Batyrgaziev, a rising star with an unblemished record, has shown both dominance and resilience. 

His ninth-round stoppage of Ireland’s Jono Carroll last year underscored his power, while his March bout against Neri Romero revealed vulnerabilities after being floored twice, though he rallied to drop Romero and secure the win despite a point deduction.

Dickens, riding a three-fight winning streak, is coming off a career-enhancing unanimous decision victory over former world title challenger Zelfa Barrett. Having competed at super-featherweight early in his 14-year career before campaigning at super-bantamweight and featherweight, Dickens is no stranger to high-stakes bouts. 

His résumé boasts notable wins over Martin Ward (British super-bantamweight title), Leigh Wood, Ryan Walsh, and Lerato Dlamini, the latter earning him the IBO featherweight belt. 

However, facing the 2020 Olympic gold medallist Batyrgaziev may mark his toughest challenge since retiring against Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2016 due to a broken jaw.

The IBA.Pro 7 Champions’ Night card also features an explosive super-lightweight clash between Armenia’s undefeated 2020 Olympic bronze medallist Hovhannes Bachkov (7-0, 6 KOs) and Uzbekistan’s hard-hitting Shohjahon Ergashev (25-2, 22 KOs). 

Adding to the excitement, the event will showcase bare-knuckle boxing under the IBA Bare Knuckle banner, with Russia’s Mikhail Tarabrin facing an opponent to be announced. (IBA)