Murodjon Akhmadaliev tops world title double-header in Monte Carlo
A world title double-header will top the latest instalment of the Monte-Carlo Showdown at Salle Des Étoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo on Saturday December 14, shown live on DAZN.
Uzbekistan’s former IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev, 12-1 (9 KOs), attempts to become a two-time world champion when he takes on Mexican knockout artist Ricardo Espinoza Franco, 30-4 (25 KOs), for the interim WBA super bantamweight title.
Akhmadaliev made three defences of the IBF and WBA titles he landed against Daniel Roman in Miami in January 2020 before losing them in a split decision points loss to Marlon Tapales on the undercard of Jesse Rodriguez vs. Cristian Gonzalez last year.
Brazilian amateur star turned 5-0 professional Beatriz Ferreira makes the first defence of her IBF lightweight title against France’s former European Champion Licia Boudersa, 23-2-2 (4 KOs), after capturing the vacant crown against Yanina del Carmen Lescano in Liverpool earlier this year.
‘The Beast’, a former amateur world champion, won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before putting pen to paper on a long-term promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing in 2022. The 31-year-old attempted to go one better by winning gold in Paris this summer but ultimately fell short against eventual champion Kellie Harrington in the semi-final.
British cruiserweight champion Chev Clarke, 10-0 (7 KOs), looks to build on his successful American debut last time out in August when he clashes with unbeaten Frenchman Leonardo Mosquea, 15-0 (9 KOs), for the vacant EBU European cruiserweight title in what will be his biggest test to date.
Irish Lightweight contender Gary Cully, 18-1 (10 KOs), puts his WBA continental title on the line against Rossington’s Maxi Hughes, 27-7-2 (6 KOs), in an intriguing Ireland vs. England match-up. ‘The Diva’ outpointed Belgium’s former European champion Francesco Patera in Leeds last time out in May while ‘Maximus’ earned an impressive stoppage win over Efstathios Antonas in Sheffield last month.
“I’m very excited to be back in the ring and making the first defence of my World Title in Monte-Carlo,” said Ferreira. “I am very proud to have finished my Olympic journey as a two-time medallist but from now on my focus is 100% on the professionals and I am excited about this next phase in my career and dedicating myself fully to professional boxing.
