Zhang-Kuzmin, Hughie Fury join Butaev-Besputin November 30th in Monte Carlo
Zhilei won silver at heavyweight in the 2008 Games
Matchroom Boxing is still putting together its planned November 30th show in Monte Carlo, which is headlined by a vacant WBA welterweight title fight between Radzhab Butaev and Alexander Besputin, but a few participants have cropped up. ESPN reports that 2008 Olympic silver medalist Zhilei Zhang and Sergey Kuzmin have “agreed” to a fight, and Eddie Hearn revealed that Hughie Fury will return on the show as well.
Hearn also brought up a clash between newly signed amateur standout Magomedrasul Majidov and Tom Little, though he said it could take place on Ruiz-Joshua II instead.
“Big Bang” Zhang (20-0, 16 KO), who from 2007-2009 claimed two bronze medals at the world amateur championships and silver in Beijing, has yet to make any real advancement in his five years as a pro, instead contenting himself with first-round knockouts of familiar punching bags like Galen Brown, Nick Guivas, and Byron Polley. He hasn’t competed at all since September of last year, when he knocked out Don Haynesworth in his native China.
Kuzmin (15-1, 11 KO) will be making a quick turnaround after a career-first loss to Michael Hunter last month. He boasts wins over David Price and Joey Dawejko.
Fury (23-3, 13 KO) is presently at the drawing board once again after falling to Alexander Povetkin in August. He’s now lost two of his last four, dropping decisions to Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev.