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, פּאַ.

 

נייַ יארק (פעברואר. 23, 2016) – Undefeated middleweight contenderאַנטוואַן דאָוגלאַס will face hard-hitting Avtandil Khurtsidze in the co-feature of SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION^® אויף שבת, מאַרץ 5, לעבן אויף שאָוטיים^® (10 פּ.ם. און/פּט) from Sands Bethlehem Events Center in Bethlehem, פּאַ.

 

Khurtsidze (30-2-2, 20 קאָס) steps in to face GH3 Promotions’ Douglas (19-0-1, 13 קאָס) in a 10-round middleweight bout for the WBO International title after סאַם סאָלימאַן pulled out of the fight last week with a knee injury.

 

Khurtsidze, פון ברוקלין, נ.י.. by way of Kutaisi, דזשאָרדזשאַ, has won eight straight – including six by knockout – since dropping a controversial decision to then-unbeaten כאַסאַן נ'דאַם 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 נאָוועמבער 21 אין פּאַריז, but the event was cancelled following the tragic נאָוועמבער 13 terror attacks in France. The rematch with the former world champion was to be contested for the IBF No. 2 spot at 160 פונט.

 

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,” האט Lou דיבעללאַ, פרעזידענט פון דיבעללאַ פֿאַרווייַלונג. “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. איצט, 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” ווילליאַמס and once-beaten Italian Marcello Matano will square off in a 12-round IBF eliminator for the No. 1 ranking at 154 פונט. אין דער עפענונג באַוט פון די טעלאַקאַסט, hard-hitting prospect טאני כעריסאַן will face veteran former world title challenger Fernando Guerrero אין אַ 10-קייַלעכיק סופּער וועלטערווייט קאָנקורס.

 

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