Batyrzhan Jukembayev is eyeing a junior welterweight title fight, but Ivan Redkach is getting in his way.
Batyrzhan Jukembayev didn't let a loss to one of the best fighters at 140 pounds define his career.
Instead, he has moved on, and is on the cusp of becoming a top contender in one of the sport's best divisions.
Jukambayev will face former fringe lightweight and junior welterweight champion Ivan Redkach tonight at the Whitesands (also known as ProBox TV) Events Center in Plant City, Florida. The 10-round fight will be streamed live on the ProBox TV YouTube page or app.
On Tuesday's scale, Jukembayev weighed 139.8 pounds. Redkach came in at 141.6 pounds.
ProBox TV's Chris Glover was impressed with Jukembayev's recent victory, and hopes that a win over Redkach will open the door to more opportunities against the best fighters in the division.
“It's a big fight to see where Jukembayev is at,” Glover told The Ring on Tuesday afternoon. “We think (Jukembayev) is at a high level, and we all know that Redkach is a high level player, so I'm happy with this fight. It's really the measuring stick where Jukembayev is in the mix at 140 pounds.”
Jukembayev (22-1, 16 knockouts), a native of Shu, Kazakhstan and now living in Montreal, Canada, defeated Mohamed Mimoune by unanimous decision in his last fight on December 13. In his last fight on September 20, Jukembayev won the title. knockout to defeat former Hugo Roldan by split decision.
The 33-year-old also defeated lightweight world champion Miguel Vazquez and Patricio Lopez Moreno.
Jukembayev has won his last four fights since suffering his only career defeat at the hands of IBF junior welterweight world titleholder Subriel Matias in May 2021.
Redkach (24-6-1, 15 KOs) hasn't fought since July 11, stopping runner-up Elvin Perez after the third round. Perez's victory came two years after he lost to two-time world champion Regis Prograis.
Redkach, 38, who is originally from Shostka, Ukraine and now lives and trains in the Los Angeles area, has held the reins of former world champion Devon Alexander and Tony Luis. Redkach fought and lost to Dejan Zlaticanin, Tevin Farmer, Argenis Mendez, John Molina, Jr. and Danny Garcia.
In the event, Adam Lopez and Jonhatan Cardoso will battle it out for the eight-round junior lightweight title. Both fighters weigh 131.4 kilograms.
“Lopez and Cardoso are a street fight, but neither one has lost,” said Glover. “It's a good fight for both boys that promises to move. I really enjoyed this one.”
Lopez, 28, (17-5 1 No contest, 6 KOs), who lives in the Los Angeles area of Glendale, last fought on November 4, defeating Giovanni Gonzalez by decision in eight one-sided rounds.
Lopez fought several fights under Top Rank, defeating the likes of Jean Carlos Rivera, Jason Sanchez, Luis Coria, and William Encarnacion. Lopez lost to Oscar Valdez, Isaac Dogboe, and Abraham Nova.
The 25-year-old Cardoso (16-1, 15 KOs), who lives in Guarulhos, São Paulo, Brazil, will take a big step forward against Valdez. In his last fight on June 14, Cardoso stopped undefeated Oscar Alvarez in the third round.
Hard-hitting Cardoso has won his last two bouts since a knockout loss to Juan Huertas in June 2022.
In the opening fight of the ProBox TV card, Charles Harris, Jr. of Rialto, California will face Kyle Erwin (7-1, 3 KOs) of Oceanside, California in a six-round bout.
Harris (8-1, 7 KOs) is trained by Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre, who also trains Ring Magazine welterweight champion Terence Crawford.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]
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