Reigning World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Welterweight Champion Lasha Gurguliani, 18-6 (6), is set to make his first title-defense on January 26 in his home-country´s capital Tbilisi.
After scoring his careers three biggest victories abroad, defeating Nuhu Lawal (25-3) in Germany, Arif Magomedov (18-2) in Russia and Andreas Valavanis (13-1) in Egypt, he now gets a rare chance to shine on home soil.
Gurguliani (29) came in as a late substitute to upset the able-cart and become world champion last May, scoring six knock-downs on his way to defeating the aforementioned Valavanis. He has since been waiting for a fight-date, which now comes when he face Mexican challenger Edgar “Nene” Ortega.
Ortega brings a mediocre 18-10 (11) record, but is a former WBO Latino Champion who holds significant wins over the likes of undefeated Daniel Rosario Cruz (8-0) and Miguel Sanchez (14-0), as well as former IBA World Champion Silverio Ortiz (34-14).
The 29 year-old from Torreon, Coahuila de Zaragoza knows he is an underdog, but will be traveling to Georgia with the same mindset which Gurguliani went to Egypt with: To crash the party and ruin it by causing an upset.
