Khurtsidze Replaces The Injured Sam Soliman
Julian Williams Takes On Marcello Matano In 154-Pound Eliminator In Main Event Of Tripleheader Live On SHOWTIME® From Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
TSHIAB YORK (Feb. 23, 2016) – Undefeated middleweight contenderAntoine Douglas will face hard-hitting Avtandil Khurtsidze in the co-feature of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION® nyob rau hnub Saturday, Lub peb hlis ntuj 5, nyob rau SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. THIAB/PT) from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, Pa.
Khurtsidze (30-2-2, 20 Kos) steps in to face GH3 Promotions’ Douglas (19-0-1, 13 Kos) in a 10-round middleweight bout for the WBO International title after Sam Soliman pulled out of the fight last week with a knee injury.
Khurtsidze, ntawm Brooklyn, N.Y.. by way of Kutaisi, Georgia, has won eight straight – including six by knockout – since dropping a controversial decision to then-unbeaten Hassan N'Dam in a bout for the vacant interim WBA World Middleweight Title in Paris in 2010.
Khurtsidze was scheduled to face N’Dam in a rematch last Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 21 nyob rau hauv Paris, but the event was cancelled following the tragic Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 13 terror attacks in France. The rematch with the former world champion was to be contested for the IBF No. 2 spot at 160 phaus.
A pressure fighter, Khurtsidze was also slated to fight last week on a DiBella Entertainment Broadway Boxing event and has been training since the fight with N’Dam was called off. The 36-year-old, who has also campaigned at super middleweight, is coming off a knockout victory over Melvin Betancourt last August.
“Avtandil is a world class guy, a former silver titlist and has been at the top of the division for years,” hais tias Lou DiBella, Thawj Tswj Hwm ntawm DiBella Lom ze. “This is a great opportunity for him and a huge step up for Douglas. Avtandil had been on his way to France to fight for the No. 2 ranking against N’Dam when the tragic terrorist attacks hit Paris, which was a terribly unfortunate situation for all. Tam sim no, he looks to impress in this fight against the highly regarded Douglas. The winner of this bout moves up significantly in the middleweight world rankings and will be in line for a major fight in the 160-pound division later this year.”
In the main event of the SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION tripleheader, Julian “J-Rock” Williams and once-beaten Italian Marcello Matano will square off in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the No. 1 ranking at 154 phaus. Nyob rau hauv lub qhib sib ntau sib tw ntawm cov telecast, hard-hitting prospect Tony Harrison will face veteran former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero nyob rau hauv ib tug 10-round super welterweight contest.
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