BoxRec

Lukasz Rozanski vs. Badou Jack Showdown in Play For Saudi Arabia

Skills Challenge Entertainment have not confirmed it yet, but it appears to be a fact that WBC Bridgerweight champion Lukasz Rozanski (15-0) will defend the title against WBC cruiserweight king Badou Jack (28-3-3) late fall in Saudi Arabia.

No details have been revealed as of yet.

Jack was at one point being pursued for a potential fight with Mexican superstar Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, who was mulling the scenario of going for his fifth divisional title.

Jack would later reveal that Canelo demanded a catch-weight of 180-pounds and a rehydration clause - which made the fight impossible to put together.

Jack captured his third division title back in February, when he stopped Ilinga Makabu in the twelfth round to capture the WBC cruiserweight crown. Jack has also held world titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight.

Last month, Rozanski was ordered by the WBC to make a mandatory defense against Kevin Lerena. There is no word on the WBC's position with respect to him facing Jack. However, Polish boxing portal Bokser.org indicates that Lerena has agreed to step aside in order to allow Rozanski vs. Jack to take place.

Exclusive interview with WBC Cruiserweight Champion Badou Jack

You’ve won multiple WBC belts in your career. What does that famous green and gold belt mean for you?

Man, It’s the best! It’s the best out of all four of them. To me it means a lot.

I believe you would like to add the WBC Bridgerweight belt to your collection. Are talks in place for you to fight Lucasz Rozanski?

We’re working on it. I would like to be back in the ring as soon as possible; probably in the fall or something.

Lucasz Rosanski is undefeated and has 14 out of 15 wins by Knockout. What challenges does he pose for you at Bridgerweight?

He’s got the physical and the strength advantage. He’s bigger than me. But I believe in myself and that skills pay the bills. I have more experience and am the better fighter. The fire’s not done yet.

Would that fight take place in Saudia Arabia?

It looks like it.

Describe your relationship with Mauricio Sulaiman through the years.

We have a good relationship. Yeah, definitely. He always checks on me. I appreciate him a lot. I saw him here in Dubai and he was at the last fight in Saudi.

I told him: when you come to to Saudi, don’t forget my personal belt. He said don’t worry, it’s already packed!

What do you think of the WBC’s efforts to develop boxing in the Middle East?

It’s amazing, especially me being here and promoting shows here. I love it. You know, WBC have always been like a family to me, even before I was a champion.

Whatever we do, they support and I’m glad that they are helping to build boxing in the Middle East.

What is the appeal of Dubai for you?

Dubai is the Vegas of the Middle East. I’ve been coming here since 2017. The Five Palm Jumeirah Hotel is one of my partners and I have a lot of friends, a lot of business partners; a lot of things going on here. I love it.

What has it been like to visit Saudi Arabia?

Man, Saudi Arabia is like a second home – same like here in the UAE. Their hospitality is second to none.

They really take care of me. It’s a country that’s growing now. They’re gonna do a lot more. They have vision.

You’re signed to Prince Khaled’s Skill Challenge Entertainment and are represented by Amer Abdallah. What do they specifically bring to the fight promotion business?

Prince Khaled loves boxing. He’s a big, big boxing fan – so he wants to create the biggest fights for the fans and for the fighters. He’s amazing for boxing.

They work with everybody. They don’t care about politics, this promoter or that network; that doesn’t matter.

(Amer is) My best friend, my brother and the business part is just bonus.

Tell us a bit more about your humanitarian efforts and Team Jack.

Right now we we’re working in Gambia with a friend of mine that has an amazing orphanage called the Squad Project. We have to feed a bunch of villages and distribute food.

We do some stuff in Jordan also; we have a refugee camp that we support.

Have WBC Cares been involved with your foundation?

Yeah, with the Jack Foundation, yeah, they’ve been helping a lot all over the years since I’ve been since I had my foundation. So yeah, they helped both me and Amer (Abdallah) with everything and it’s been amazing.

What are 3 pieces of advice that you could give young people?

Number one, always put God first. 2) Always believe in yourself. 3)Anything is possible.

I might fight for my 4th division world title. When I started boxing, I never thought I was gonna do that and I’m not even done yet.

It’s all about believing this stuff, have good people around you and stay positive.

I didn't know Bridgerweight was still a thing. Never heard of Rozanski

Kevin Lerena Fully Focused on Rozanski vs. Jack Winner After Securing WBC Interim-Belt

“Badou Jack and Rozanski, get your act together because I wanna get it on,” Lerena said. “Rozanski and Badou Jack have to come to some sort of agreement and all I’m gonna do is keep winning.”

“We can only make do with what is put in front of us. I was working hard to get a knockout, but Saned is a tough competitor. He said he was going to knock me out, but looks like he was the one doing all the kneeing and taking a seat. I was here to fight," Lerena said.

Lerena’s trainer, Peter Smith, was pleased with his fighter's performance.

“[Lerena] did a great job, I loved the fight. He’s got a great jab and we are going develop that jab even better so watch out for the future. Saned is a tough opponent, he lasted and did not get knocked out. That’s what we like when we watch top fights," Smith said.

Joke fight for a joke title… but intriguing I guess.

Rozanski has often come in 240lb… if he knows even a tiny bit about weight cutting and wants to he can come in 240lb here with a fairly mellow cut. If he does, that’s a lot of weight to throw round at badu jack.

Jack should be unifying with jai… but I guess this has is an easier fight and he doesn’t even have to gamble his cruiser weight belt…