WBA super bantamweight mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev won’t be sitting on his hands while Naoya Inoue deals with IBF mandatory Sam Goodman on Christmas Eve, instead battling Ricardo Espinoza for the interim belt atop a December 14th DAZN show in Monte Carlo.
“MJ” (12-1, 9 KO) hasn’t seen action since a two-fight 2023 campaign saw him lose his two titles to Marlon Tapales and subsequently bounce back by routing Kevin Gonzalez eight months later. Though the interim belt makes sense considering the circumstances, I’m not sure why Mexico’s Espinoza (30-4, 25 KO) is his dance partner; “Hindu” is ranked no. 13 by the WBA and his only fights of note have seen him knocked out by John Riel Casimero and beaten comfortably on the cards by Daniel Roman.
The other half of the title doubleheader sees two-time Olympic medalist Beatriz Ferreira (5-0, 2 KO) defend her IBF lightweight belt against France’s Licia Boudersa (23-2-2, 4 KO). Ferreira is absolutely the real deal and could have very easily taken gold in both Tokyo and Paris but for sharing a generation with Kellie Harrington, while Boudersa is a longtime super featherweight with just one win in the last five years over an opponent with a positive record.
“I’m very excited to be back in the ring and making the first defence of my World Title in Monte-Carlo,” said Ferreira. “I am very proud to have finished my Olympic journey as a two-time medallist but from now on my focus is 100% on the professionals and I am excited about this next phase in my career and dedicating myself fully to professional boxing.
In mildly better matchmaking, Cheavon Clarke (10-0, 7 KO) takes on Leonardo Mosque (15-0, 9 KO) for the vacant European cruiserweight belt. In unambiguously solid matchmaking, Maxi Hughes (27-7-2, 6 KO) faces Gary Cully in an instriguing lightweight crossroads bout.