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Out of Africa – Mike Perez sees big fight changed again – NEW OPPONENT


Mike Perez will NOT be fighting Ilunga Makabu next but the Cork-Cuban cruiser will still have a major contest this month.

It has been confirmed that Perez [23(15)-3(1)-1] will box Russian top prospect Aleksei Egorov at the KRK in Ekateringburg on Sunday June 16th – a fight which will be shown live on BoxNation.

The Caribbean former heavyweight was due to box Makabu [24(23)-2(2)] for the WBC Silver title next Saturday [June 8th] in Kinshasha, Congo. This was a rescheduled date after the Congolese puncher, who lost to Tony Bellew for the WBC belt back in 2018, pulled out of a Saturday May 4th fight following an injury.

Perez had stepped in to take on Makabu following the withdrawals of Dmitry Kudryashov and Nigerian gatekeeper Olanrewaju Durodola but now, in a complete turnaround, Kudryashov [23(23)-2(2)] has returned to the breach.

The Russian banger will now fight Makabu for the WBC rankings belt this weekend and Perez will box Egorov [8(6)-0] in the chief support.

25-year-old Egorov turned pro in 2016 and has been on a typically Russian fast-track. Having claimed the Russian title within 12 months, Egorov has notched some notable names recently in African contenders Lateef Kayode and Thomas Oosthuizen. Currently he is ranked #7 with the WBA – while Perez is #10 with the WBC following his Caribbean title win over Keith Tapia last time out.

Egorov had been due to fight serial European champion Mateusz Masternak on the card in Central Russia but this has now changed to Perez.

The Sunday afternoon TITOV/RCC card also features plenty of other cruiserweight action with Olympic gold medallist Evgeny Tishchenko taking on Abraham Tabul and Aleksei Papin facing Alexandru Jur, as well as heavyweights Evgeny Romanov and Ariel Bracamonte and lightweights Yuliya Kutsenko and Firuza Sharipova fighting.

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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