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.
NEW YORK (Feb. 23, 2016) – Undefeated middleweight contenderAntoine Douglas wajihi doonaan adag-dhufasho Avtandil Khurtsidze in the co-feature of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION® on Saturday, March 5, ku nool yihiin SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. IYO/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, ee 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 November 21 in Paris, but the event was cancelled following the tragic November 13 terror attacks in France. The rematch with the former world champion was to be contested for the IBF No. 2 spot at 160 pounds.
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,” ayaa sheegay in Lou DiBella, Madaxweynaha DiBella Entertainment. “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. Hadda, 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 pounds. In xumad furitaanka telecast ku, hard-hitting prospect Tony Harrison will face veteran former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero 10-wareega tartanka welterweight super ah.
Qiimaha tikidhada dhacdo live, kaas oo la dalacsiiyay ay dalacaad King ee, waxaa la qiime jaban ah $100, $75 iyo $45, ma ku jiraan kharashyada adeegga ay khuseyso iyo canshuurta oo waa on sale hadda. Tikidhada ayaa la heli karaa HALKANat www.ticketmaster.com. Si ay lacag taleefan Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000.
Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah booqo www.SHO.com/Sports iyo www.sandseventcenter.com, raac on TwitterSHOSports, JRockBoxing, @Action_Douglas, IAmBoxing, FernandoDomini, @TheSBEC and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports