Kal Yafai defends WBA super-flyweight title while Denis Lebedev meets Mike Wilson for cruiserweight belt
Sky Sports has announced a glittering line-up for its next Monaco showpiece, as Kal Yafai, Denis Lebedev, Zhang Zhilei and Frank Buglioni are all in action. Yafai defends his super-flyweight belt against Israel Gonzalez of Mexico and Lebedev goes toe-to-toe with unbeaten US star Mike Wilson for the WBA cruiserweight title. The Extravaganza is set to take place in the Doctor Room of the Monte Carlo Casino on the 24 th November 2018.
Yafai’s headline match against Gonzalez will be his fourth defense of the belt he won in December 2016 from Luis Concepción. At the time, Yafai became the first boxer from Birmingham to win a world title, and he has so far successfully fought off challenges from Japanese duo Suguru Muranaka and Sho Ishida in 2017, David Carmona earlier this year on his US debut.
Meanwhile, cruiserweight “champion in recess” Lebedev looks to the front of the wrestling championship champion Oleksandr Usyk by taking the American Wilson undefeated. Hizni Altunkaya last month, while Wilson currently has a record breaking 19-0 record in the cruiserweight division, although he has yet to face stern opposition far.
Elsewhere on the bill, 2008 Olympic silver medalist Zhilei Zhang from China will defend his WBO oriental belt against Alexander Ustinov from Russia in the heavyweight division. Zhang has his eyes on a potential clash with current world champion Anthony Joshua, with whom he shared a keen rivalry as an amateur, but must be wary of the threat posed by Ustinov beforehand. Former kickboxer Ustinov suffered only 36 seconds last time out against Syrian Manuel Charr and will surely be looking for a reaction.
Finally, “Wise Guy” Frank Buglioni from Britain will go up against China’s Fanlong Meng in the light-heavyweight category, as the former British light heavyweight champion looks to put a stop to Meng’s undefeated streak in the division. Kazakhstani Daniyar Yeleussinov, who won gold at the Rio Olympics two years ago, is also in action against an as yet unnamed opponent, while further undercard is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m delighted to be back in Monaco for the third time for a fantastic night of world championship boxing,” said event promoter Eddie Hearn . “It’s always special to return to the Monte-Carlo Casino. It’s a great place to be and will be broadcast by the fans all over the world. “Tickets for the extravaganza begin at € 400 and can be snapped up at the Monte-Carlo Society of Sea Baths website or phoning +37798 063 636.