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For the second time in less than
four months, Ukrainian promoter
Oleg Bruskov is staging a big
World Boxing Federation title
twin-bill in Kiev. And, as was
the case the first time, local
stars Vitali Kopylenko and Timur
Akhundov will headline against
tough opposition.
On July 14, Kopylenko, who
currently holds the WBF
Intercontinental title, will get
his first shot at a World
championship when he squares off
with former WBF world
title-challenger and reigning
Portuguese Champion Vitor Sa for
the vacant WBF World
Middleweight title.
In the co-featured attraction
WBF Intercontinental
Featherweight Champion Akhundov
is set to make the first defense
of his belt against Frenchman
Leonus Marie Francoise.
28-year-old Vitali Kopylenko,
17-0 (8), won his
Intercontinental title on March
17 by stopping undefeated
(22-0-1) compatriot Vasyl
Tarabarov in four rounds, and
looked impressive in the
process. In Vitor Sa, 27-7 (5),
he will be in with another stern
challenge, as the Portuguese
enters his sixth title bout
compared to Kopylenko’s second.
As recent as this past February
Sa lost on points for the WBF
World title against Cagri Ermis
in Germany, but did well enough
to qualify for a crack at the
now vacant title. In April he
won the Portuguese national
title when he decisioned Ricardo
Fernandes, but at 39 years of
age he won’t have many
opportunities like this left.
Timur Akhundov, 13-2-1 (5),
stopped Hungarian Arpad Vass in
the third round to win his WBF
title, and he is hoping that
another impressive performance
on July 14 will also put him in
line for a WBF World
Championship opportunity. He is
undefeated in his last eleven
bouts, and has every intention
of doing a number on his French
challenger.
Leonus Marie Francoise, 8-6-1
(2), doesn’t exactly bring a
record that sends chills down
the spines of many, but, as is
often the case with French
professional boxers, he has not
been protected on his way to
what will be his first
title-shot.
His losses have come against
good opponents, several who were
undefeated, and none of them
were able to beat Francoise
inside the distance.
In his most recent outing
Francoise travelled to Montreal,
Canada to take on undefeated
(8-0) local prospect Baha Laham,
in a fight that was televised by
ESPN in North America, and came
away with a controversial draw.
Famed trainer and commentator
Teddy Atlas had Francoise
winning the fight clearly,
scoring the six-rounder 59-55
for Francoise.
So, despite the mediocre
statistics, Francoise will
undoubtedly give Akhundov a
serious run for his money. Just
like on March 17, it looks like
promoter Bruskov has put
together another exiting show
for the Ukrainian boxing fans on
July 14. |
