Boxing News Boxing News
European junior-middleweight champion Sergey Rabchenko’s march to a world title will continue when he defends his title for the second time against Adriano Nicchi of Italy in Monte Carlo on March 30.
Rabchenko, of Belarus, will fight on the undercard of the Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super Four event.
To date, Rabchenko has fought primarily in Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom, but a cosmopolitan Monte Carlo audience can see for themselves one of the world’s best emerging boxers.
“Rabchenko is probably the most gifted kid I’ve been involved with,” said renowned promoter and manager Philippe Fondu. “If properly managed and promoted, he’s got the potential to become a great and charismatic champion.
“He is indeed running short of possible worthy opponents in the UK and is delighted to be given the opportunity to showcase his talent against the reigning Italian champion in such a prestigious venue.”
Rabchenko (22-0, 16 KOs) is a devastating puncher and boasts defeats of the likes of awkward southpaw Cedric Vitu and former championship contender Ryan Rhodes.
Fondu believes that with the division in such a state of flux, Rabchenko could be in the title mix before long.
“It is difficult to say who will be the WBC champion in a few months, but some great opportunities await Rabchenko,” said Fondu.
A sharp puncher with a good chin, Rabchenko has the added benefit of having Ricky Hatton in his corner.
“With Ricky at my side I can win a world title,” said the Belarussian, aged 26.
A former student of the Belarussian State University of Physical Culture, Rabchenko participated as an amateur in numerous world and European championships. A multiple national champion, he won 208 of his 228 amateur bouts.
The former undefeated WBA Inter-Continental light-middleweight champion, he is rated by the three major boxing bodies (WBC #3, WBA #6, IBF#10).
The Rabchenko-Nicchi fight is part of the Monte-Carlo Million Dollar Super Four, a four-man boxing spectacular put together by African promotional giant Golden Gloves in partnership with the Monte-Carlo SBM Group.
The elimination event features Edwin Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs), Zsolt Erdei (33-0, 18 KOs), Denis Grachev of Russia (12-1-1, 8 KOs) and Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (19-0, 13 KOs).
Co-headlining this mammoth triple-header on March 30, which will pit Rodriguez against Maderna and Zsolt versus Grachev in the opener, is one of the biggest stars in world boxing today.
Undefeated WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (25-0, 22 KOs), fresh off his sensational seventh-round destruction of Gabriel Rosado at Madison Square Garden, will defend his title against dangerous Japanese contender Nobuhiro Ishida (24-8, 9 KOs).
The Golovkin-Ishida bout will be promoted in association with K2 Promotions, while the Rodriguez-Maderna and Erdei-Grachev matchups will be promoted in association with DiBella Entertainment.
