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The IBF welter belt is up for grabs tonight at Sportspark Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia with champion Jan Zaveck defending against challenger Paul Delgado.
Zaveck, 30-1 (17), is on a five bout win streak since his only loss, a European title challenge dropped via split decision against Rafal Jackiewicz in 2008, and the 34 year old managed to win the IBF crown and make two defenses, including revenge against Jackiewicz, during that span.
Like Zaveck, American based challenger Delgado is 34 years of age and on a five contest victory parade but the similarities stop there as the Georgia man has never defeated a high level opponent.
Delgado, 25-9-1 (4), has faced quality opposition such as Paulie Malignaggi, Demetrius Hopkins, Jo Jo Dan, Dmitriy Salita and Said Ouali but lacks a victory in any of those clashes and was stopped by Dan, Hopkins and Ouali.
For Zaveck, this is likely a bout to stay busy until having to meet mandatory obligations against heavy-handed Randall Bailey but Delgado does have loads of experience under his belt and could be very motivated in what could be the only world title opportunity of his career.
It will be difficult for Delgado to pull off an upset, particularly on Zaveck’s home ground, as the visitor doesn’t have much of a punch and it will take an absolutely perfect performance to win on points in Ljubljana.
The undercard features middleweight Christina Hammer, 8-0 (6), defending her WBO Female title against Diana Kiss, 6-2-1 (5), in a 10 round bout that also will determine the winner of the vacant WBF strap.
In another 10 rounder, light heavyweights Denis Simic, 25-1 (14), and Sandro Siproshvili, 24-7 (11), tangle for the WBF International bauble.
