Kiryl Relikh Set To Follow In Hitman Hatton’s Footsteps

Kiryl Relikh says he’ll prove his potential for the top when he faces experienced Argentinian Christian Ariel Lopez in Monaco this Friday night, October 2.

The explosive Belarusian makes the first defence of his WBA Intercontinental Super-Lightweight crown and he believes it is only a matter of time before he’ll be strapping a world title around his waist.

Relikh, 25, has been trained by former four-time world champion Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton for the past 18 months and believes he now has enough weapons in his arsenal to follow in his idol’s footsteps.

Relikh is already ranked number ten in the world by the WBA thanks to an unbeaten run consisting of 19 fights with 17 knockouts, and could move into the top five with a stellar showing against Lopez.

“It’s every boxer’s dream to win a world title and with every fight I get a step closer,” Relikh said. “I’m already in the top ten and I can’t wait to fight the best in the division. Lopez looks like a good boxer and he has not been beaten in nine years, but he’s no match for me and I will not let him come between me and my dream.

“Every day when I go to the gym to train with Ricky, I look at the belts he won mounted on the walls and tell myself that one day I’ll have world titles of my own. Ricky was the best junior welterweight in the world and I want to follow in his footsteps. He’s not only my trainer, he’s my hero and I want to do him proud by taking him to the big fights in Las Vegas again.”

Chief support on Friday night sees Kirkham’s unbeaten Adam Little face experienced Frenchmen Sylvain Chapelle, while Ukrainian prospect Fedir Cherkashyn will take on Victor Garcia over six rounds and Samuel Boulogne locks horns with Aleksandr Kulbinok.

The show will be promoted by ASM Boxe in association with Hatton Promotions, World Sport Promotion Ltd and Neil Marsh.