Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs Kevin Gonzalez Set To Feature On Rodriguez vs Edwards Undercard
- Jessie Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards Clash On Dec 16 In The US Live On DAZN
- The WBO/IBF Flyweight Unification Is One Of The Best Fights In The Calendar
- Murodjon Akhmadaliev Set For WBA Eliminator On Rodriguez vs Edwards Undercard
Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-1, 8 KOs) and Mexico’s Kevin Gonzalez (26-0-1, 13 KOs) have a date for their WBA final eliminator.
The pair will clash on the undercard of one of the most-anticipated matchups in the boxing calendar on December 16 between Sunny Edwards and Jesse Rodriguez.
The WBO/IBF Flyweight unification bout between the undefeated champions will take place at the Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona live on DAZN.
Akhmadaliev, the former unified champion, lost his titles in a controversial decision defeat to Marlon Tapales in April. Tapales will face one of boxing’s biggest stars, Naoya Inoue, on Dec 26 in Tokyo.
Mexico’s 25-year-old Gonzalez is unbeaten in the paid ranks and scored a decision win over Jose Sanmartin in March – Sanmartin headlines a Matchroom/DAZN card next Saturday in Newcastle.
Akhamdaliev and Gonzalez challenge for the right to be the mandatory to the winner of the Dec 26, 4-belt unification clash between Inoue and Gonzalez.
Should Inoue win as expected, it is likely that he will stay at 122 for two more fights and Akhmadaliev would be the best challenger available for him, should he win on Dec 16, in addition to Luis Nery.
Other Fights On The Rodriguez vs Edwards Undercard (Main Card)
2020 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai (5-0, 4 KOs) will defend his WBC International Flyweight title against California’s Rocco Santomauro (22-2 6 KOs).
Yafai (5-0 4 KOs) won the title on debut in London in February 2022 and travelled to New York to make his first defence two months later.
Last time out, Yafai destroyed Tommy Frank in a hometown of Birmingham in August, and the Olympic gold medal man will look to close 2023 out in style against the experienced Santomauro
Liverpool’s Peter McGrail (8-0, 5 KOs) fights in the States for the first time in the paid ranks and fights for his first pro title as he takes on Ja’Rico O’Quinn (16-1-1 8 KOs) for the WBA Continental Super-Bantamweight belt.
McGrail bagged a second wide points win of 2023 in his last action on his home patch in Liverpool last month, and now the 27-year-old can cap his year by adding his first pro honours to his wealth of amateur titles with victory over Detroit’s O’Quinn.
Jesse Rodriguez vs Sunny Edwards Prelims: Before The Bell
The Before the Bell action will be launched by Joe McGrail (7-0 3 KOs), who fights for the eighth time in the pros against Brandon Rosales Marquez (6-5-2) over six rounds at Featherweight.
The fifth Brit to step through the ropes on the night will be rising star Junaid Bostan (7-0 6 KOs), with the Rotherham talent tackling unbeaten Detroit man Gordie Russ II (6-0 6 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Welterweight.
Completing the line-up in Arizona and also starring in the Before the Bell portion of the card are Californian Arturo Popoca (11-0-1 7 KOs) who faces Carlos Mujica (8-3 3 KOs) over eight rounds at Super-Bantamweight.
And Albert Gonzalez (5-0 2 KOs) takes on Robenilson Vieira de Jesus (5-1 1 KO) over six rounds at Featherweight.
READ: Adam Azim’s Next Fight: Rising Star Will Defend European Title On Feb 3 Buatsi vs Azeez Undercard