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      Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua event ‘affected by FLIES’ as boxers on undercard struggle to deal with insects

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      FIGHTERS on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Anthony Joshua are struggling to deal with FLIES.Commentator Adam Smith made the stunning revelation with the bumper night of fights well underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
      Badou Jack lands a blow on the undercardCredit: AP
      Ramla Ali defied the flies to grab a stunning winCredit: Getty
      During Badou Jack’s clash with Richard Rivera, the broadcaster said: “flies are affecting boxers in the ring”.
      In addition to battling the bugs, Jack and Rivera were also forced to fight for an extra 60 seconds during round eight… when the timekeeper went awol.
      The clock on the Sky Sports Box Office screen disappeared at the end of the allocated three minutes, but the two fighters were made to slug it out for an extra 60 seconds.
      With the fight going to a decision, it was Jack who managed to follow Ramla Ali in defying the flies to grab a big win.
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      AJ’s crunch rematch with Usyk is set to go ahead in stifling 32 degree heat later tonight at King Abdullah Sports City.
      The Brit will be desperate to thrive in the sticky conditions to earn back his heavyweight belts.
      Joshua, 32, weighed in at 244lbs for the crunch bout – 4lbs heavier than the first fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      Usyk, meanwhile, came in at 221lbs – exactly what he weighed last September.
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      In the immediate aftermath of the weigh-in, AJ said: “I’ll be honest, all of this stuff doesn’t matter, it’s just about the fight. Real talk.
      “All of this stuff, weight, face-off, none of it matters to me. Just looking forward to the fight.”
      AJ then added: “I’m just ready for 12 rounds, 100 per cent ready for 12 rounds and anything short of that is a bonus.”
      Joshua engaged in mind games during the face off – asking Usyk about his weakness.
      Amid rumours that the Ukrainian was hurt by a shot to the body while sparring with Martin Bakole, AJ asked: “How’s your bodyshot? In sparring…” More

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      Who is Oleksandr Usyk’s wife Yekaterina and how many children do couple have?

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      OLEKSANDR USYK takes on Anthony Joshua tonight – and his wife Yekaterina will be cheering at the top of her lungs from his corner.The Ukrainian has his mind set on the highly-anticipated heavyweight clash with British icon Joshua.
      Oleksandr Usyk’s wife Kateryna have been married since 2009Credit: Instagram @usykaa
      And Usyk will be eager to make his long-term partner proud yet again by stunning AJ for a second successive time.
      But who is the driving force behind Oleksandr Usyk’s success story?
      Who is Oleksandr Usyk’s wife Yekaterina?
      Yekaterina, commonly known as Kateryna has decided to keep her personal life mostly private.
      But the celebrity spouse is popular in her birth country of Ukraine.
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      It has been claimed that Yekaterina had been close to Oleksandr Usyk for several years before becoming Mrs. Uysk in 2009 and she now runs the foundation which belongs to the heavyweight champ.
      Kateryna makes rare appearances on social media, but she opened up on her husband’s physical state during the Russian war on Ukraine.
      Kateryna told PravdaTUT: “Sasha lost 10 kilograms in a week of the war. He was so horrified, in such shock, he was so torn apart.”
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      Do Oleksandr Usyk and his wife Yekaterina have children together?
      The long-term lovebirds have three children together – Kyrylo, Mykhalio and Yelizaveta.
      Usyk and his young family had to flee their home in Vorzel, Bucha when the area was overrun by Vladimir Putin’s troops.
      Usyk’s children were involved in the horrific family house incident during the war
      Usyk moved his family out of Ukraine immediately after the incident
      Sadly, it meant many of Usyk’s possessions were burned to the ground and he had to focus on getting his family to safety before heading to the front line.
      Usyk said: “My children are asking: ‘Daddy, why do they want to kill us?’ I don’t know how to answer that.
      “My family are not in Ukraine now but a lot of people I know and a lot of my close friends are inside the country. 
      “I am in touch with them every day, I am asking them for updates.
      “I didn’t want to leave the country. I want to live there, still. Straight after the fight I will go back to Ukraine.”
      When is Joshua vs Usyk 2?

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 will take place on Saturday, August 20.
      It is scheduled to begin from around 9pm UK time – 11pm local time.
      The fight is going to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which can hold around 62,000 spectators.
      Joshua last fought in Saudi Arabia in December 2019 when he beat Andy Ruiz Jr at the second time of asking by a unanimous decision.

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      Watch Anthony Joshua’s cheeky taunt to Oleksandr Usyk amid shock claims champ was HURT in sparring

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA played mind games with rival Oleksandr Usyk by asking about his weakness, amid rumours that the Ukrainian was hurt in sparring.Usyk, 35, will defend his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles against Joshua, 32, in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
      Joshua played mind games with Usyk by asking about bodyshotsCredit: Matchroom Boxing, @IFLTV
      Usyk remained undeterred and shook Joshua’s handCredit: Matchroom Boxing, @IFLTV
      Martin Bakole is claimed to have hurt Usyk in sparringCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      The Ukrainian beat Joshua for the belts last September by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      Joshua has since regrouped and made a number of changes to his coaching staff and training camp in order to try and exact revenge on Usyk.
      And just hours before the fight, a number of social media users claimed that Billy Nelson revealed that his fighter Martin Bakole “hurt” Usyk’s body in sparring.
      When Joshua came face-to-face with Usyk he tried to get inside his opponents head by asking: “How’s your bodyshot? In sparring…”
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      Usyk remained laser focused and respectful, shaking Joshua’s hand before posing for photos.
      Meanwhile, WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury offered his advice to Joshua on how to beat “the blown-up middleweight” Usyk.
      Fury says Joshua needs to attack the body of Usyk if he’s to win the rematch.
      The Gypsy King’s dad John has also weighed in on how Joshua can beat Usyk in tonight’s fight.
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      🥊AJ vs Usyk 2 confirmed fight time, TV and live stream info for tonight’s blockbuster
      John says Joshua needs to enter the ring in ” the worst form of human being he’s ever been”.
      He told Freebetsdotcom: “I know they’re all favouring Usyk, and I can’t blame them, but I wouldn’t write Anthony Joshua off.
      “If he gets the right game plan, the right mindset, takes it to him and bullies him a bit with a lot of devil in his work, I think he can stop him.
      “I’d go for body punches, I’d work the body.
      “Plenty of punishment downstairs, bring them up through the middle and around the sides. If he gets that game plan, who knows, I think he can do it.
      “But it’s going to take devil in his work, aggression and him to be a bully and the worst form of human being he’s ever been in that night.
      “He’s got to change his character completely.
      “He’s got to be a demon when he’s in there, otherwise he’s going to come up second best because you can’t outbox Usyk as he’s just too tricky.
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      “But what he can do is out strength him, out game him and use his size and his weight to his advantage.
      “He needs a lot of that [heart], if he gets all of this, you get an AJ win. Anything less, Usyk [wins].”
      John Fury says Joshua needs ‘a lot’ of heart to beat UsykCredit: Getty
      John also says Joshua needs to use his size and weight advantageCredit: Getty More

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      ‘Your expectations are not always met’ – Usyk laughs off Amir Khan’s claims he had put on 15lbs for Joshua rematch

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      OLEKSANDR USYK has shrugged off Amir Khan’s suggestion that he was planning to come in heavier for his rematch with Anthony Joshua.The 35-year-old Ukrainian weighed in at 221 pounds on Friday – the same as he did for their first bout in London last September.
      Usyk tipped the scales at the same weight as the first fight 11 months agoCredit: Getty
      Challenger Joshua is the best part of two stone heavier than UsykCredit: Getty
      Usyk schooled Joshua to win a clear decision victory 11 months ago and will be hoping to do the same in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
      But some were surprised by him not having put on any more weight – with AJ coming in four pounds heavier to increase the gap between them to 23lbs.
      There were rumours throughout fight week about Usyk having bulked up for his fourth bout at heavyweight.
      And former world champion Khan claimed Usyk had said he was 15 kilograms heavier when the pair met in Dubai earlier this month.
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      But he then came in at the same weight, with Usyk responding to Khan’s comments by simply saying: “You see, your expectations are not always met.”
      Khan was adamant the unified heavyweight champion was going to come in heavier for the rematch.
      Speaking to SecondsOut, he said: “He looks a lot bigger.
      “I mean he was telling me that he’s put on an extra 15 kilos since he last fought AJ, so, we’re going to see how much strength he’s going to be having.
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      🥊AJ vs Usyk 2 confirmed fight time, TV and live stream info for tonight’s blockbuster
      Get Anthony Joshua at 40/1 OR Oleksandr Usyk at 25/1 to win with William Hill
      “He looks like a full-on natural heavyweight. He is big and looks very strong.
      “He nowhere near looked like a cruiserweight, he looked like a nice full blown-up heavyweight.
      “He was strong at the weight when he was hitting the pads and stuff and you can see the definition on his body.
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      “He’s very thick and you can see it’s solid muscle that he’s got.”
      Usyk heads into the fight with AJ as the favourite following his superb display at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year.
      It is the first time in Joshua’s professional career that he is going into a bout as the underdog. More

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      Tyson Fury and Derek Chisora in X-rated war of words over £2m fight snub as Gypsy King brings Anthony Joshua into row

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      DEREK CHISORA launched an X-rated response after Tyson Fury labelled him a “sausage” for “turning down” £2million to fight.The 38-year-old is out in Saudi Arabia to watch Anthony Joshua’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.
      Derek Chisora hit back at Tyson FuryCredit: iFL TV INSTAGRAM
      The Gypsy King has repeatedly mocked Del BoyCredit: Instagram @tysonfury
      After being called a “sausage” by the Gypsy King, Chisora hit back that people are sick of the 34-year-old’s “f***ing b***s*** – while Fury brought AJ into the argument.
      Asked by iFL TV about the war of words, Del Boy blasted: “Listen. He’s a mug, he’s puppet.
      “He needs to phone Frank Warren, get more money, come see me. I didn’t miss out on anything I don’t have.
      “I don’t care, I’m just getting it out there, he’s a mug.”
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      Asked if his representatives had asked for £3m to fight Fury, Chisora added: “Asked for three million? He didn’t send us the paper work!
      “Listen. I’m not going to get into arguments with him. You know we sell out a stadium, ten million on the gate, then plus pay-per-view and he told me two million?
      “That’s a bit stupid isn’t it? I ain’t no donkey am I?
      “Tyson is a mug man. He’s a mug, he’s an a***hole, what can I say? He’s got so much b***s***.
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      “He’s such a b***s****er man. He’s not honest, he’s not an honest person. He’s a b***s****er. he’s not honest. He’s an a***hole.”
      Asked if his friendship with Fury is definitely over, he said: “I don’t hate the guy, but if he’s trying to insult me by offering me that kind of money without the contract… that’s bulls***.
      “Then come out in public and say ‘I offered you this much money’.
      “I didn’t even say about money when I was bringing it up in my video. I got loads of videos I can bring out of him but I won’t do that because he’s an a***hole.”
      Asked if he had a final message for Fury, he said: “Suck my d***. b****.”
      The Gypsy King responded with a similarly crude statement, bringing Joshua into the argument and reminding Chisora of what happened in their two previous fights. More

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      ‘Men I respect in different ways’ – Wladimir Klitschko reveals who he is backing as Anthony Joshua fights Oleksandr Usyk

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      WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO has sent out a message of support for both Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk. AJ rematches Usyk in Saudi Arabia tonight, following his loss last September, which Klitschko’s brother Vitali was ringside for.
      Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua during their sparring days
      Wladimir Klitschko with Oleksandr Usyk

      The Ukrainian heavyweight great was involved in a modern classic with Joshua in 2017 but retired after the round 11 loss.
      And the former sparring partner remain good friend to this day, with AJ often seeking Klitschko’s advice.
      The former heavyweight ruler also goes way back with Usyk, 35, following training and sparring sessions of their own.
      And with both so heavily affected by the war going on in their homeland, Klitschko has backed his countryman against AJ.
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      Klitschko, 46, tweeted: “Heavyweight Boxing today with two men I respect and know in different ways.
      “I wish you both success but know Ukraine is where I stand!!”
      Joshua, 32, was urged by his gym-mate Frazer Clarke, 31, to replicate the tactics he used against Klitschko in his rematch with Usyk.
      Clarke told Sky Sports: “He’s under no illusions. He’s going to have to be the best he’s ever been to beat Usyk.
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      “I think he’s going to have to be better than he’s ever been. Better than the Wladimir Klitschko night.
      “I feel like he has to be Klitschko-esque. That night there were ups and downs and he had to come back. He might just have to do that.
      “He’s got every chance. From what I’ve seen him put in on a daily and a weekly basis, he’s given himself every chance and that’s all you can ask from a fighter in a camp.
      “If you give everything you’ve got to give, with the experience and the skill he’s already got, he’s given himself every chance.”
      Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko in their 2017 classicCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Meet Ramla Ali, the first woman to box in Saudi Arabia on Anthony Joshua undercard who is refugee and model

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      RAMLA ALI is the history-making boxer whose story began after fleeing war-torn Somalia as a baby. Ali is an Olympian, model, activist and author, who is also set to become the first women fighter to compete in Saudi Arabia on the Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk undercard.
      Ramla Ali will become the first women to box in Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA
      Ramla Ali has modelled for DiorCredit: Getty
      The featherweight is 6-0 as a professionalCredit: https://www.instagram.com/ramlaali/
      But the 32-year-old’s journey started before she was even a year old when her family made the brave call to flee Somalia for the UK.
      Her elder brother had been killed by a bomb, aged just 12, during the civil war in the early 1990s.
      And Ali’s family escaped the capital Mogadishu following a nine-day boat journey to Kenya.
      Some died of starvation on the way although Ali’s family eventually found refuge in London.
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      They settled in Whitechapel, East London, but in her teens Ali was bullied for being overweight.
      She took it upon herself to join a boxercise class at a local gym.
      But she did not tell her family, fearing they would disapprove of the sport for a Muslim girl.
      Ali would go on to win novice and elite titles, but her success meant her boxing secret was exposed.
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      She told Stylist in 2020: “I sort of knew they wouldn’t agree with it.
      “I told my younger brother because he was one of the cool ones – I think I needed an ally.
      “The rest of the family found out when my older brother saw me fighting on TV.
      “It was quite annoying, because I had specifically asked for that fight not to be shown.
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      “When I got home, the whole family was gathered in the living room – I guess you could call it an intervention.
      “Obviously they didn’t think a woman should be boxing, so they asked me to stop.”
      A defiant Ali, perhaps inspired by her own families journey to freedom, eventually won them over, including her mum.
      Ramla Ali only started boxing to lose weightCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      She did not even tell her family she started boxingCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Ramla Ali won novice and elite amateur titlesCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      She said to BBC Sport: “A couple years ago we had a sort of turning point.
      “I got a phone call from her to wish me good luck in the tournament that I was going to in Denmark.
      “It was honestly the best feeling in the world, knowing that somebody that I love so much has taken an interest in something that I love so much.
      “She’s so supportive now. She hasn’t watched me compete live – she will wait until the next day to watch it on YouTube.”
      Ali initially boxed for England at international amateur level but changed to represent Somalia.
      And despite turning professional in 2020, a year later at the delayed Tokyo Olympics, she represented Somalia but lost in her opening bout.
      Despite Ali’s impressive boxing portfolio, she is equally as successful outside of the ring.

      🥊AJ vs Usyk 2 confirmed fight time, TV and live stream info for tonight’s blockbuster
      Ramla Ali boxed in the Tokyo OlympicsCredit: Getty
      The boxer modelling for CartierCredit: Getty
      Ramla Ali has a charity of her ownCredit: https://www.instagram.com/ramlaali/
      The super-bantamweight has modelled for Dior, Cartier and Nike, while featuring on several magazine covers.
      In 2019, she was one of 15 picked by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to star on the front of the September issue of British Vogue.
      Ali is a UK Unicef ambassador and three years ago taught boxing to young girls at a refugee camp in Jordan.
      The humanitarian also runs her own non-profit all-women self-defence group called Sisters Club, which has the backing of Nike.
      To top if off, last year Ali released her own book, Ten Steps to Becoming Your Own Champion.
      Her popularity and personality has shone in the pro ranks and she stole the show in July at the O2 Arena.
      Derek Chisora, 38, beat Kubrat Pulev, 41, in the main-event but Ali’s win over Agustina Rojas drew the most fanfare.
      Ramla Ali’s non-profit organisation Sisters ClubCredit: https://www.instagram.com/ramlaali/
      Ramla Ali beat Marisa Belen Rojas in her last fightCredit: Getty
      She said: “I only had to put out the flyer and within 72 hours I’d sold 500 tickets. It was insane.”
      Ali now takes her talents to Saudi Arabia this Saturday, on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
      She faces Crystal Garcia in what will be the first sanctioned women’s boxing bout in Saudi.
      Ali said: “It’s a huge honour. This is a one-time thing.
      “No-one else will be the first, and for myself and for my opponent, both our names will be cemented in history. It’s an incredible feeling.”
      Joshua’s world title rematch in the Middle East nation has drawn criticism due to Saudi’s poor human rights records and treatment of women.
      But Ali responded: “You can’t fault a country who are trying to make change. This isn’t just a gimmick of ‘let’s stick on women’ and whatever.
      “If I am trying to fight for women’s rights, why wouldn’t I support a country who is trying to make change, who is trying to change women’s rights.”
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      The only thing missing from Ali’s sensational lists of achievements is a world title in the pro ranks – another piece of history she eyes.
      She said:  “I want to become a world champion. I hope in doing so people will develop a better view of Somalia.”
      Ramla Ali ahead of her fight in Saudi ArabiaCredit: PA More

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      Who won Money Kicks vs Traycho Georgiev? Fight result as YouTuber makes pro debut on AJ undercard

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      MONEY KICKS made his pro boxing debut on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk.A proposed bout with Floyd Mayweather failed to materialise last year so Dubai’s richest kid aka Rashed Belhassa stepped into the boxing pro ranks on the undercard of Usyk and AJ’s big rematch.
      Money Kicks (left) weighed in for his pro boxing debut
      Money Kicks arrived in Jeddah in style
      His bout with Traycho Georgiev (0-3) was his first professional fight, having previously defeated Anas Elshayib and Ajmal Khan in exhibition contests.
      Belhasa is the son of a billionaire and earlier this year had a fight set up with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
      The pair met when Belhasa was young with 50-0 champ Mayweather visiting his father’s zoo – a popular destination for celebrities including Lionel Messi, Nicky Minaj, Cardi B and AJ.
      But the proposed fight was cancelled and Belhasa turned his attention to Georgiev, who had failed to win any of his three professional fights.
      Read more on Money Kicks
      When is Money Kicks fight?
      Money Kicks lost to Traycho Georgiev via SPLIT-DECISION.
      The result handed Money Kicks a loss on his pro debut, and was Georgiev’s first win in the pro ranks.
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      Traycho Georgiev celebrates in style

      🥊AJ vs Usyk 2 confirmed fight time, TV and live stream info for tonight’s blockbuster
      Who is Money Kicks? 
      Money Kicks’s real name is Rashed Belhasa.
      Born January 5, 2002, in Dubai, UAE to an Islam family.
      He is known for being a YouTuber and Actor.
      He mostly shares his fashionable outfits and video clips over on his Instagram account.
      Just search this username @rsbelhasa to find him.
      He currently has over 2 Million Followers on his Instagram account and 2.6 Million Subscribers on Youtube Channel.
      He got huge recognition after making videos about his rich lifestyle, expensive shoes and different exotic vehicles like Rolls Royce and Bentley
      What is the full Usyk vs Joshua undercard?

      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 (10.54pm) – World heavyweight championship WBA ‘super’, IBF, IBO and WBO – 12 rounds
      Filip Hrgovic vs Zhilei Zhang (9.52pm) – IBF heavyweight final eliminator – 12 rounds
      Callum Smith vs Mathieu Bauderlique (8.50pm) – WBC light-heavyweight final eliminator – 12 rounds
      Badou Jack vs Richard Rivera (7.18pm) – cruiserweight – 10 rounds
      Ziyad Almaayouf vs Jose Alatorre (6.48pm) – super-lightweight – 4 rounds
      Ramla Ali vs Crystal Garcia Nova (6.10pm) – super-bantamweight – 8 rounds
      Andrew Tabiti vs James Wilson (5.24pm) – heavyweight – 8 rounds
      Ben Whittaker vs Peter Nosic (4.46pm) – light-heavyweight – 6 rounds
      Daniel Lapin vs Josef Jurko (4.03pm) – heavyweight – 8 rounds
      Bader Alsamreen vs Faud Tarverdi (3.30pm) – super lightweight – 6 rounds
      Rashed Belhassa aka Money Kicks vs Traycho Georgiev (3pm) – welterweight – 4 rounds

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