Dubai gets ready to rumble again today

DUBAI: Thursday saw the weigh-ins being conducted and the announcement of the Friday night’s running order of the #RotundaRumble4 event taking place at the Rotunda in Caesars Bluewaters Dubai.

The action-packed D4G Promotions card in association with Round 10 Boxing and MTK Global will be broadcast in the US live on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV.

While Friday night’s main event features a WBC International lightweight title fight between defending champion Viktor Kotochigov (12-0, 5 KOs) and Maxi Hughes (21-5-2, 4 KOs), scheduled also is the highly-anticipated debut of amateur star Hovhannes Bachkov against 22-6 opponent Samuel Gonzalez and teenage sensation Faizan Anwar taking on JR Mendoza, in addition to more action in the ring.

Kotochigov will be facing the toughest test of his career so far, but he’s determined to get a win here and move on to even bigger fights in the future.

Amateur superstar Hovhannes Bachkov faces an extremely dangerous challenge in his professional debut on Friday, as he prepares to take on 22-6 opponent Samuel Gonzalez.

Armenian phenom Bachkov had an incredible amateur career, winning gold medals at the European Games in 2019 and the European Championships in 2017, and bronze medals at the World Championships in 2019 and 2017.

He also represented his country at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and he’s relishing the opportunity to make his debut against a tough opponent with an impressive winning record.

Bachkov said: “A strong rival is a good one. If you want the whole world to know who you are, you must start your career with a strong rival and then do your talking in the ring.”

Meanwhile, British pugilist Blane Hyland will be looking for a win over Mohamed Salah Abdelghany. Liverpool star Hyland is back in action for the first time since March, and he’s hoping to kick on in the next 12 months and rise through the ranks.

Speaking at Thursday’s weigh-in Hyland said: “After not boxing in August I stayed in the gym ready for the next date to come through, so now that’s its finally here I’m made up and I’ll be more than ready come fight night.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring, and what an experience it will be to fight in Dubai on a great card. I just want to thank MTK Global for the opportunities they are putting in front of me, and I’m looking forward to putting on a show tomorrow.”

Fights’ schedule: Starting a 8pm local time, Bout 1 will be in the welterweight division and will see 6 rounds featuring Faizan Anwar (152lbs) vs. Jr Mendonza (152lbs),

Bout 2 will be in the super-flyweight division with 6 rounds of action featuring Blane Hyland (116lbs) versus Mohamed Salah Abdelghany (116lbs),

Bout 3 is in the super-lightweight division scheduled for 8 rounds between Hovhannes Bachkov (142lbs) and Samuel Gonzalez (142lbs),

Bout 4 will be the night’s main event for the WBC International lightweight title, featuring 10 rounds between Viktor Kotochigov (135lbs) and Maxi Hughes (135lbs)

Besides, another fight in the cruiserweight division will feature 6 rounds of action between Lambert Fogoum (205lbs) versus Austine Nnamdi (211lbs).