uper-bantamweight Murodjon Akhmadaliev, considered one of just some fighters courageous sufficient to say out loud that “Monster” Naoya Inoue is operating from him, will get the possibility to choose up an interim belt this Saturday night time in Monaco. The once-beaten southpaw from Uzbekistan will face Ricardo Espinoza Franco, the interim WBA title at 122 kilos up for grabs.
This combat may show to be a vigorous encounter, even when 30 yr outdated “MJ” is a fairly clear favorite to win. We all know all Mexican fighters are powerful, nonetheless, so it might be very unwise for anybody to jot down off the 27 yr outdated from Tijuana who’s at the moment 30-4(25), with Franco having been stopped simply the one time, this by John Riel Casimero again in April of 2019. Winner of 5 fights since his loss to Daniel Roman in Might of 2021, Franco may very well be checked out as a fighter who has just about nothing to lose on Saturday, and this might make him harmful.
Akhmadaliev, a former WBA and IBF super-bantamweight champ, has been overwhelmed solely by Marlon Tapales, this through nearer than shut determination final April. Since then, “MJ” has picked up a great, strong stoppage win over Kevin Gonzalez, the win coming nearly a full yr in the past. It’s doable Akhmadaliev will likely be considerably rusty on Saturday, and this might conceivably give Franco some probabilities early.
It may show to be a firefight for so long as it lasts. Each males like to combat, can punch, and are sometimes in enjoyable fights. So long as Akhmadaliev isn’t trying previous Franco, this in direction of a combat with who, he ought to be capable of get a win that both comes by late stoppage or through a fairly extensive margin on the playing cards.
Assuming he does get the win, and a powerful one, you may guess who Akhmadaliev will name out in the course of the ring as he’s being interviewed. Inoue faces Sam Goodman subsequent, this on December 24, however so long as he’s lively and hasn’t misplaced, “MJ” will proceed calling out “The Monster.”
