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World amateur champion Mohammad Rabii
To make pro debut at home in main event
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Feb. 18 in Casablanca, Morocco
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 CASABLANCA, Morocco (February 2, 2017) – Former Interim cruiserweight world champion Yuri “El Toro” Kalenga will provide chief support February 18 for pro-debuting Moroccan amateur boxing sensation Mohammad Rabii i runga i te “Battle of Casablanca” kāri, presented by Nowhere2Hyde, at Complexe de Sportif Mohammed V Arena in Casablanca, Morocco.Kalenga (22-3, 15 Koó), fighting out of France by way of The Congo, is currently rated No. 12 i te Ao mekemeke Association (WBA) a No. 16 i te Kaunihera mekemeke Ao (WBC). The knockout artist takes on Kareti “Ko te Ultimate Warrior” Wilson (17-11-1, 9 Koó), o Philadelphia, who is a former United States Boxing Association (USBA) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) toa.
I roto i te 2014, Kalenga captured the WBA Interim title with a 12-round split decision over 32-1 Mateusz Masternak in Monaco, followed with a successful title defense in Canada against 12-0 Denton Daley by way of a 12th round technical knockout.
Kalenga has never been in a dull fight. Two of his three career losses have been to current WBA Super cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (26-2), who Kalenga dropped in the fourth round, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision in Russia, and last June he was stopped for the first time in his seven-year pro career by 20-0 yunier Dorticos in Paris for the Interim WBA strap.
 The 23-year-old Rabii defeated 2016 Mētara koura Olympic Daniyar Yeleussinov in the welterweight division championship finale of the 2015 AIBA World Amateur Championships to capture a gold for his native Morocco. Rabii won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games i roto i Brazil, dropping a highly-disputed decision (0-3) in the semifinals to Uzebek boxer Shakhram Giyasov, the eventual silver medalist.The ultra-charismatic Rabii has reached “rock star” status in Morocco, testament by an average of 6-million Moroccans viewing each of Rabbi’s Olympic matches on Arryadia Television. “We are very excited to work with our television partners, Arryadia, on our February 18th show as the first of five shows in 2017 featuring Mohammed Rabii,” kaiwhakatairanga Gary Hyde mea. “Rabii has the entire nation of Morocco behind him and he will be challenging for top welterweight honors in no time at all.”
Rabii will take on veteran Hungarian boxer Arama “Boy kino” Mate (24-10, 17 Koó) in the six-round main event.
Also in action on “Battle of Casablanca” will be former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) world featherweight champion, Simpiwe Vetyeka (29-3, 17 Koó), who is world ranked No. 4 i te WBA, Kaua e. 6 e Ko te Ring magazine, a No. 7 i te WBC. The gifted South African faces undefeated Hungarian prospect David Nerna (8-0, 8 Koó) i roto i te a'ee 10-a tawhio.
Netherlands light middleweight Gevorg Khatchikian (24-2, 12 Koó) will also be in action against Ugandan Med “Kabona” Sebyala (16-8-1. 13 Koó) in another 10-rounder. Khatchikian, who will be fighting as a 154-pounder for the first time as a professional, has only lost twice as a pro, both to present super middleweight world champions, James Degale (IBF) a Gilberto Ramirez (WBO).
Hyde manages Rabii, Kalanga and Vetyeka.
Tickets are now on sale for the Feb. 18 show in Casablanca.
KŌRERO:
Twitter: @nowhere2hyde,
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