Denis Lebedev of Russia said that he was ready to fight the undisputed cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk anywhere, including Ukraine, the native country of the latter. The WBA in February reported that Lebedev, who did not take part in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS), was declared "the champion in recess", but will have to meet with the winner of the tournament. Usyk in July won the WBSS final by beating the Russian Murat Gassiev.
The WBA ordered the undisputed cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk to defend his title against the Russian champion “in recess" Denis Lebedev, who had not boxed for more than a year. He will fight next on September 7 against the Turkish Hizni Altunkaya. "Until October 3-4, negotiations are in progress, if not, then there should be a bidding. The big chance that the fight will take place within six months," said Vadim Kornilov Lebedev’s manager.
Undisputed cruiserweight champion Alexander Usyk sparred with former unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Usyk shared photo from the training on his page in Instagram and signed it: "Great sparring with a great champion." Earlier it was reported that Wladimir spars regularly but not going to return to the ring.
Two Kiev promotional organizations BoomBox Promotions and Sparta Boxing Promotions will co-organize the boxing event on October 2, on Tuesday, in Ukraine capital's Sports Palace. In two main events, 20-year-old Ramil Gadzhyiev (7-1-1, 4 KOs) will compete for the title of WBC super middleweight champion and 22-year-old Karen Chukhadzhyan (12-1, 6 KOs), who will try to win the WBC Youth welterweight title.
Former cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev said that the American trainer Freddie Roach did not take part in his preparations for the fight against Hizni Altunkaya of Turkey, all the work was conducted by Marvin Samodio.
The WBA has ordered the teams of Alexander Usyk and Denis Lebedev to start negotiations on, said Vadim Kornilov, the manager of the Russian boxer. Denis Lebedev will fight next on September 7. He will return to the ring for the first time since 2017.
Former cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev of Russia lost 26 pounds during the preparation for the battle against Hizni Altunkaya of Turkey. Lebedev said this at a press conference before the fight which is scheduled for September 7 in Chelyabinsk.
Former light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia will fight next against Colombian Eleider Alvarez, the bout with a high probability will take place in January, the promoter Kathy Duva said.
Former WBA and IBF cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev of Russia will visit the fight of his compatriot Denis Lebedev with Hezni Altunkaya from Turkey, the organizers of the boxing evening in Chelyabinsk informed at a press conference.
Russian boxer Alexander Povetkin undergoes a tough procedure of doping control before the fight with Anthony Joshua, Russian tests show negative results. This was stated by the head of the company "World of Boxing" Andrei Ryabinsky.
