Artem Suslenkov vs. Artur Mann | YouTube - 17 April 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Artem Suslenkov-Artur Mann to headline IBA.PRO 16 on Friday

Artem Suslenkov will take on Artur Mann in a heavyweight headline bout scheduled for 10 rounds in Friday’s IBA.PRO 16 at the Nadezhda Sports Palace in Serpukhov, Russia.

The event will be streamed on the IBA Boxing YouTube page.

Suslenkov, 13-0 (8 KOs), is a 30-year-old from Volgograd, Russia, who most recently stopped Croatia’s Agron Smakici in five rounds last October. With a win, Suslenkov – ranked No. 13 in the division by the WBA – can continue building momentum and begin positioning himself for a shot at a world title in the not-too-distant future.

Mann, 23-5 (14 KOs), is a 35-year-old Kazakhstan-born German and former cruiserweight. In his final fight at 200lbs, he was stopped by Sergey Kovalev in Kovalev’s April 2025 swan song. Mann has since blown out Gregory Garcia in a first-round knockout this past February.

In the co-main event, Russia’s Yuri Osipov, 5-0 (4 KOs), will take on Britain’s Michael King (8-4-1, 6 KOs), in a middleweight bout scheduled for six rounds.

Additionally, Russia’s 16-2-1 (5 KOs) Nikita Miroshnichenko – a sparring partner for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez – will face countryman Alexander Khokhlov, 4-1-1 (1 KO), in a scheduled eight-rounder at welterweight; Russia’s Mikhail Grigoryan, 8-0 (2 KOs), will meet the Philippines’ Joe Santisima, 26-9 (22 KOs), in a 10-round lightweight battle; Serpukhov’s Sergey Kalchugin 5-0 (3 KOs) will compete in his farewell bout in front of his hometown crowd; and Danila Belevitin – another Serpukhov fighter and a bronze medalist at the 2026 Russian Cup – will also appear.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Heavyweight Artem Suslenkov crushes Artur Mann in three rounds

Russian heavyweight fringe contender Artem Suslenkov cruised to 14-0 (9 KOs) in Lausanne, Switzerland, when he stopped Germany's Artur Mann, who was stepping up from cruiserweight, in three rounds.

After a tentative start, the 30-year-old Suslenkov, with seeping blasts to the body, pressured to leave Mann, 23-6 (14 KOs), looking out of his depth by the second round.

Mann never really stood a chance. Heavy hooks dropped him twice in the third round and, though he would gamely rise each time, a sustained Suslenkov savaging forced the referee to stop the fight.

"After training camp there’s always a degree of fatigue," the winner said afterwards. "And once the fight is over, you feel a real sense of relief, a chance to catch your breath a bit. But I stress a bit — there’s still a great deal of work ahead and plenty of fights to come. Mann was dangerous in the first round. I hesitated slightly at the start, but then my coaches in the corner gave me the right advice and things began to improve. Honestly, I didn’t expect to finish the fight that early. We prepared to go the full ten rounds.

"As for what’s next, I’m ready for anyone. I understand that specific challenges matter, but that’s not how I approach it — I’ll fight whoever I’m offered. A bout with Murad Khalidov? I’d rather not. What’s the point of us fighting each other in Russia? But if it has to happen, then we’ll fight.”

On the undercard, rising lightweight Mikhail Grigoryan, 9-0 (2 KOs), outpointed the experienced Jeo Santisima, 26-10 (22 KOs), over 10 rounds

Controlling distance and dictating angles, Grigoryan shone with sharp left hands and uppercuts. Despite a late rally from Santisima, Grigoryan would win on all three scorecards.

[2410785]

block blastHeavyweight Artem Suslenkov crushes Artur Mann in three rounds

Russian heavyweight fringe contender Artem Suslenkov cruised to 14-0 (9 KOs) in Lausanne, Switzerland, when he stopped Germany's Artur Mann, who was stepping up from cruiserweight, in three rounds.

After a tentative start, the 30-year-old Suslenkov, with seeping blasts to the body, pressured to leave Mann, 23-6 (14 KOs), looking out of his depth by the second round.

Mann never really stood a chance. Heavy hooks dropped him twice in the third round and, though he would gamely rise each time, a sustained Suslenkov savaging forced the referee to stop the fight.

"After training camp there’s always a degree of fatigue," the winner said afterwards. "And once the fight is over, you feel a real sense of relief, a chance to catch your breath a bit. But I stress a bit — there’s still a great deal of work ahead and plenty of fights to come. Mann was dangerous in the first round. I hesitated slightly at the start, but then my coaches in the corner gave me the right advice and things began to improve. Honestly, I didn’t expect to finish the fight that early. We prepared to go the full ten rounds.

"As for what’s next, I’m ready for anyone. I understand that specific challenges matter, but that’s not how I approach it — I’ll fight whoever I’m offered. A bout with Murad Khalidov? I’d rather not. What’s the point of us fighting each other in Russia? But if it has to happen, then we’ll fight.”

On the undercard, rising lightweight Mikhail Grigoryan, 9-0 (2 KOs), outpointed the experienced Jeo Santisima, 26-10 (22 KOs), over 10 rounds

Controlling distance and dictating angles, Grigoryan shone with sharp left hands and uppercuts. Despite a late rally from Santisima, Grigoryan would win on all three scorecards.

Artem Suslenkov is truly my idol. He's so strong!!

[Perkin Warbeck]

Suslenkov is very good, but he's perhaps too small at 6'1" for a modern-day heavyweight contender. He probably won't be given a chance anyway by the big promoters like "allegedly" and Hearn because he's from Russia.