Umar Salamov Signs With Top Rank

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Top Rank has signed Russian light heavyweight Umar Salamov, the WBO No. 2 contender, to a multi-fight promotional agreement. From Grozny, Russia, the 25-year-old is trained and managed by Kevin Barry, who is known for his work with the likes of David Tua, Robbie Peden and Joseph Parker.

Salamov, who is scheduled to return on an ESPN platform this summer, trains with Barry at the Team Barry Gym in Henderson, Nev.

“Now approaching the biggest time in my career, I am excited and very pleased to be signing with the world’s top boxing promoter, Mr. Bob Arum and Top Rank,” Salamov said. “I am confident that I now have the right team to take me all the way to a world championship. This opportunity is huge, and I plan on making the most of it.”

Said Barry: “At 25 years old, Salamov is a tremendous talent. At 6-foot-3½, he is a huge 175-pounder. His power and unorthodox style make him a difficult and dangerous challenge for any of the top light heavyweights. This is a very proud Chechen from a long line of battle-hardened fighters.”

Salamov (25-1, 19 KOs) has won six consecutive bouts since the lone defeat of his career, a July 2017 decision loss to Australian contender Damien Hooper on the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao undercard in Brisbane, Australia. He has won five of his last six by knockout and has made three defenses of the WBO International light heavyweight title he won via second-round KO over Denis Liebau. He last fought in September 2019 in Grozny, thrilling the hometown fans with a third-round stoppage over big-punching Ghanaian Emmanuel Danso. He hails from the same region of Russia as promotional stablemate and IBF/WBC light heavyweight world champion Artur Beterbiev.

Salamov has his sights set on the WBO world title, last held by Canelo Alvarez, who vacated the title shortly after dethroning Sergey Kovalev last November.

“Umar is a gentle giant of a young man, an excellent fighter who has only begun to tap his immense potential,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “With Kevin Barry in his corner, he is in great hands. The light heavyweight division is on fire, and Umar is ready to add his name to the championship mix.”

[Steel City]

Salamov will be the next champ at 175.

Solid young fighter.

The one loss on his record to Hooper was a robbery (watch the fight, no way he lost that)

[Ruthless-RKO]

April 8 [THURSDAY]

Light Heavyweight: Umar Salamov vs. Sergey Ekimov [Moscow, Russia]

[margaret thatcher]

umar could only manage a split decision, he's not very good

[margaret thatcher]

Salamov will be the next champ at 175.

Solid young fighter.

The one loss on his record to Hooper was a robbery (watch the fight, no way he lost that)

ya, he's so impressive that he can barely beat sergey ekimov

compare that to my boi, latvian cinderella man rick bolotniks, winning every round vs same guy

[DrDuke]

umar could only manage a split decision, he's not very good

Against the 34 year old guy with recent two straight losses. The fight itself was luckluster and either-way-going. Salamov was pressing the action without punches majorly and often got outboxed. Both Smith and Vlasov are better.

It was more interesting to watch the other fight of this card, where Jack Mulowayi upset and stopped the Chechen HW prospect Apti Davtaev.

[margaret thatcher]

pretty sure umar will fight smith next, he'll get pounded

i had seen apti once before and knew he was awful, it was only a matter of time before someone punched him in.

as a wise man once said "big stiff idiot"

[DrDuke]

pretty sure umar will fight smith next, he'll get pounded

He'll get it, if he fights Smith. It'll be a better option for Smith than the Vlasov rematch.