IBUZZ Istanbul will host its biggest prizefight yet on July 2, when Olympic champion-turned-surging contender Albert Batyrgaziev headlines IBA.PRO 7 Champion’s Night against Liverpool veteran James “Jazza” Dickens. The 26-year-old Russian southpaw (12-0, 8 KOs) carries a top-10 Ring rating and the WBA interim super-featherweight belt, while Dickens (35-5, 14 KOs) arrives on the back of a 10-round decision over Zelfa Barrett.
Watch Galahad vs. Dickens 2 highlights: Watch
Batyrgaziev’s rapid ascent has been defined by risk-heavy matchmaking; his last four foes boasted a combined 79-2-1 record, and he needed two knockdowns worth of grit to outpoint the previously unbeaten Neri Ariel Cruz Romero in March. Now, for the first time in his pro career, the Tokyo 2020 gold-medalist ventures outside Russia, intent on reinforcing his claim to Lamont Roach’s full WBA crown.
Dickens provides seasoned resistance. The 33-year-old southpaw twice challenged for world honours at featherweight, owns wins over Leigh Wood and Kid Galahad in the amateurs, and has rededicated himself after falling short against Galahad in 2021. A spoiler’s victory in Istanbul would rocket him into a third world-title shot, this time at 130 lbs.
Fight card:
▪️Albert Batyrgaziev vs. James Dickens, 12 rounds, for the IBA Pro World super featherweight title
▪️Hovhannes Bachkov vs. Xolisani Ndongeni, 10 rounds, for the IBA Pro Intercontinental super lightweight title
▪️Ahmad Mustafayev vs. Madiyar Saydrakhimov, 6 rounds, cruiserweight
▪️Puneh Akhundtabarmazandarani vs. Mizhgona Samadova, 6 x 2 rounds, featherweight
▪️Gulsum Tatar vs. Milana Safronova, 6 x 2 rounds, welterweight
▪️Elnur Suleymanov vs. Mikhail Kokhanchik, rounds TBA, weight TBA
▪️Murat Kazgan vs. Will Chope, rounds TBA, weight TBA
