WBO Light Heavyweight title challenger Yuti Barashian, 25-4 (17), ruled out any chance he may have to win Zsolt Erdei’s title in their clash tonight at the Bordelandhalle in Magdeburg, Germany as the 29 year old southpaw was unable to make the divisional weight limit of 175 pounds yesterday.
The native born Armenian won the European title last year with an eight round KO of Thomas Ulrich before losing a wide points decision to Argentina’s Hugo Hernan Garay for the vacant WBA title in his most recent action.
Erdei, 29-0 (17), puts his eight year win streak on the line against Barashian but will retain his WBO title if he loses the bout, scheduled for twelve rounds.
Another WBO title bout takes place on the bill as Russian super middleweight Dennis Inkin, 34-0 (24), makes his first defense of the crown he won against Colombian slugger Fulgencio Zuniga last September by facing the challenge of undefeated Hungarian southpaw Karoly Balzsay, 19-0 (14).
Balzsay comes into the bout as the reigning WBO Intercontinental beltholder and has stopped his last two opponents, leading to what should be a very competitive bout with Inkin.
Super middleweight contender Robert Stieglitz, 33-2 (20), is on the undercard and will face Dmitri Protkunas, 10-27-1 (1), in an eight rounder, just one month after narrowly posting a split decision over previously undefeated Lukas Wilaschek to win the WBC International belt.
Former WBA Super Middleweight title challenger Dimitri Sartison, 25-1 (15), is also set to appear, keeping busy with a eight rounder against Vasily Andriyanov, 7-17 (1).