The June 27 edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights will feature undefeated Lightweight Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach (16-0, 13 KOs) and Sergey “The Surgeon” Gulyakevich (41-2, 17 KOs) in the 10-round main event. Friday’s show, from Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Mo., will air live at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
Main Event:
California’s Redkach, a 2008 Olympic alternate for Ukraine, is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision win over Tony Luis, while Gulyakevich, who hails from Belarus and is making his U.S. debut, is looking to score another win following a six-round unanimous decision over Kristian Dochev.
“I’ve been preparing differently for this fight than others – I’ve been training to the fullest, like never before, and I’ve been sparring with different kinds of fighters, with a variety of styles,” Redkach said. “I know a little bit about Gulyakevich. He’s not a standard boxer. He’s a good opponent for me. I’m going to be attacking him, but I’ll have to adjust after we start boxing.”
Co-Feature:
Friday’s eight-round co-feature will pit undefeated Jr. Lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (19-0, 4 KOs) of Massachusetts against Texas’ Ramsey “The P.O.G.” Luna (12-1, 5 KOs). Kielczewski is looking to continue his winning ways after scoring a six-round unanimous decision win over Guillermo Sanchez in his last fight, while Luna is looking to score another win following an eight-round unanimous decision win over Justo Vallecito.
Full Undercard
Opening up the card will be promising hometown favorite Stephon Young (9-0, 4KO’s), from nearby St. Louis, MO, looking to improve to a perfect 10-0 when he squares off against Vicente Alfaro (6-3, 1KO) in a six-round junior featherweight showdown.
Also seeing action on the card in separate six-round middleweight bouts will be newly signed middleweight DBE prospects Eduardo Alicea (6-0, 3KO’s) and Paul Littleton (8-0-1, 4KO’s). Alicea, who is co-promoted by Rumble Time Promotions, is set to square off against Demetrius Walker (7-4-1, 4KO’s), while Littleton will take on heavy-handed Skylar Thompson (12-12, 10KO’s).
Making his much-anticipated pro debut will be DBE’s Ukrainian amateur superstar Ivan Golub in a special attraction four-round middleweight bout as he squares off against St. Louis-native Javon Wright (1-2). The 25-year-old Golub had an astounding amateur career, which saw him become a five-time Ukrainian National Champion, win a bronze medal at the junior world championships in 2006 and bronze at the world championships in 2009, amassing a record of 270-32 in the process. Now Golub is ready to his pro career underway when he takes on Wright.
Rounding out the card will be undefeated local favorites Derrick Murray, Kent Cruz and Samir Simpson Bey, all in separate four-round bouts. Murray (6-0-1, 3KO’s) is set to take on fellow St. Louis-native Joseph Mueller (pro debut) in a four-round featherweight matchup. Cruz (5-0, 3KO’s) squares off against the fellow undefeated Guy Smith Jr. (2-0) in a four-round junior welterweight showdown while St. Louis’ Bey (2-0-1, 2KO’s) takes on Devon Hostler (1-4) from nearby St. Joseph, MO, in a battle for neighborhood bragging rights.
