LIGHT WELTER 64 KG – Location: Manerba del Garda – Venue: Porto Torchio
Harutyunyan vs Petrauskas headlines a crucial night of Light Welterweight (64 kg) boxing
The Light Welterweight (64 kg) division of AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) has already produced many exciting contents, and two more world class battles are scheduled for Saturday night at Porto Torchio, Manerba del Garda Italy.Number one ranked Artem Harutyunyan (GER) impressed despite losing to APB Champion Artem Zakaryan (RUS) in the Inaugural Title Match, and the German star begins his attempt to meet the Russian titleholder for the third time when he faces fourth ranked Evaldas Petrauskas (LIT) in Italy.
2013 European Championships bronze medalist Harutyunyan has proven to be an excellent addition to APB, with his entertaining style earning him a legion of new fans.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed victories over both Abdelkader Chadi (ALG) and Boris Georgiev (BUL), while his lone defeats have come against the phenomenal Zakaryan.
Petrauskas won a bronze at the London 2012 Olympic Games at just 20-years-old, and has been unlucky in this competition after suffering three narrow defeats.
His APB career highlight thus far was undoubtedly his memorable stoppage over Boris Georgiev during the Ranking Phase, which gives him the power advantage over his German opponent.
Harutyunyan has experience of competing over the eight round distance however, and enjoys tremendous stamina which will become especially beneficial as the fight progresses.
Both boxers have plenty of energy and skill, which means their styles should gel very well in Italy.
The winner of the contest will next meet either second ranked Carlos Aquino (ARG) or third ranked Abdelkader Chadi (ALG) in Cycle I Round 2.
Aquino is on a three fight APB winning streak, while Chadi has won three of his first four matches in this excellent competition.
Artem HARUTYUNYAN (GER) vs Evaldas PETRAUSKAS (LTU)
Carlos AQUINO (ARG) vs Abdelkader CHADI (ALG)
LIGHT WELTER 64 KG – Location: Manerba del Garda – Venue: Porto Torchio
Ivanov and Benchabla strive for APB Light Heavyweight success in Italy
The final two Light Heavyweight (81 kg) matches of AIBA Pro Boxing (APB) Cycle I Round 1 will take place on Saturday night at Porto Torchio, Manerba del Garda, Italy.
Fifth ranked 2013 European Champion Nikita Ivanov (RUS) will meet 28-year-old Abdelhafid Benchabla (ALG) in Italy, and their match is expected to produce an entertaining contest.
Ivanov began his APB career with two very impressive victories over Joseph Ward (IRE) and Light Heavyweight Champion Ehsan Rouzbahani (IRI), but suffered a brace of stoppage defeats to finish the Ranking Phase with a 2-2 record.
Although Benchabla will be making his APB debut against Ivanov, the Algerian is a very experienced competitor, having competed at two Olympic Games, and the World Series of Boxing (WSB).
The longer round experience that Benchabla gained in WSB will serve him well here, but the Cycle 1 matches will consist of eight rounds apiece, which is a distance neither man has ever completed before.
An interesting clash of styles makes this bout particularly interesting, with Ivanov enjoying an abundance of strength and a phenomenally high punch output, while Benchabla has the ability to fight comfortably at distance or in the pocket, which makes him a dangerous opponent in this format.
With two crushing TKO losses in a row, Ivanov will have to decide which tactics he uses in the contest, as he may well be wary of leaving his defenses exposed too often.
He will have to attack at some point however, so it remains to be seen whether Benchabla has the power to make it a trio of stoppage setbacks, or if the African fighter will box for a points victory instead.
The winner of the clash will next meet either Serge Michel (GER) or Oybek Mamazulunov (UZB) in Cycle I Round 2.
Michel defeated Mamazulunov at the end of January despite losing two of the first three rounds, and will be eager to claim a second triumph over his tough Uzbek opponent.
Nikita IVANOV (RUS) vs Abdelhafid BENCHABLA (ALG)
Serge MICHEL (GER) vs Oybek MAMAZULUNOV (UZB)
