Murodjon Akhmadaliev from Uzbekistan, who fights out of Indio, California, defends his WBA and IBF junior featherweight belts against Ronny Rios of Santa Ana, California, at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday night.
The 27-year-old Akhmadaliev (10-0; 7) won both belts on 30 January 2020 with a 12-round split decision win over Daniel Roman (27-2-1) and has made successful defences against Ryosuke Iwasa in April 2021 on a fifth-round stoppage, and in November 2021 with a one-sided decision over Jose Velasquez.
Rios (33-3; 16), who is the WBA mandatory challenger, lost in a challenge for the WBC junior featherweight belt in 2017 against Ray Vargas.
His other defeats have come against Robison Castellanos in 2014 and a sixth-round stoppage loss to Rey Vargas in 2017.
The 32-year-old Rios has been inactive for more than a year and goes into the fight as the underdog.
The WBC and WBO champion is Stephen Fulton.
JONATHAN GONZALEZ DEFENDS WBO BELT ON FRIDAY
Jonathon Gonzalez from Puerto Rico defends the WBO light flyweight belt against Filipino Anthony Barriga on Friday night at the Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, in an all-southpaw clash.
Gonzalez, 31, who has a record of 25-3-1; 14, won the belt in 2021 against Elwin Soto on a split decision and will be making his first defence.
The 29-year-old Barriga competed at the 2012 Olympics in London and has compiled a record of 11-1; 2 since joining the professional ranks.
This will be Barriga’s second crack at a world title, he lost to Carlos Licona in 2018 for the IBF light flyweight belt.
The odds must favour the more experienced champion.
The other main organisation champions are WBA “super” Hiroto Kyoguchi, WBA “secondary” Esteban Bermudez, WBC Kenshiro Teraji, and the IBF title is vacant.