Today, Chinese boxer Zhang Zhaoxin (12-2, 7 KOs) and Russian Murodjon Akhmadaliev, the silver medalist of the 91 kg category at the 2021 Olympics (3-0, 2 KOs), held a pre-fight weigh-in ceremony in Serpukhov, Russia.
On the morning of July 13th (Saturday), Beijing time, the two will engage in a scheduled 12-round cruiserweight (Bridge weight, 224 lb limit) bout to vie for the vacant WBA World Title. The bout will be live-streamed on the Boxing Carrier’s Douyin channel (qjhm).
The current 28-year-old Zhang Zhaoxin has a professional record of 12 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, with 7 victories by knockout. Born in Minqin, Gansu, Zhang is 1.88 meters tall with an arm span of 1.89 meters. He enlisted at age 15, serving in the motor transport unit under the Lanzhou Military Region in Qinghai, initially learning automobile driving, then serving in the guard company and grassroots platoon for five years until his retirement.
In 2017, Zhang began his professional career and once won the WBA Asia regional cruiserweight title. In July 2021, he challenged the then-WBA regular cruiserweight champion Belgian Riad Merhy, being TKO’d in the eighth round. This February, Zhang pulled off a stunning second-round KO against Russian veteran Romanov (19-1, 12 KOs) on Russian soil, making a name for himself. In the first round, Zhang was knocked down once by Romanov, but staged an incredible comeback in the second round.
The 27-year-old Akhmadaliev has a professional record of three wins without a loss, with two victories by knockout. Standing at 1.94 meters tall, he won the silver medal in the 91 kg boxing category at the 2021 Olympics, as well as the gold at the 2019 World Boxing Championships and European Boxing Championships, boasting an impressive amateur record. Although he has only fought three professional bouts, he is already ranked No. 64 in the heavyweight division on BoxRec. For Zhang Zhaoxin, this match will be tough, facing a skilled opponent on home turf.
In the undercard main event, Albert Batyrgaziev (10-0, 7 KOs), the gold medalist of the 56 kg category at the 2021 Olympics from Russia, will face Irish fighter Jono Carroll (24-2-1, 7 KOs) for the vacant WBA interim super featherweight title. Both boxers are southpaws. Despite having fought only 10 professional bouts, the 26-year-old Batyrgaziev is currently ranked No. 6 in the 130-pound division on BoxRec, with a promising future ahead.
