“Asanov is one of the most troublesome opponents of my career” – boxer Gabil Mamedov

2019 European Games silver medalist and 2020 Olympic Games participant, Russian Gabil Mamedov called a Belarusian Dmitry Asanov one of his most troublesome adversaries.

Mamedov and Asanov will face each other in an 8-round fight on March 3 at the IBA Night of Champions tournament in Sochi for the IBA European champion belt in the weight category up to 63.5 kg. These boxers met three times: in the final of the 2019 European Games in Minsk, in the semi-finals of the 2021 European Olympic qualifier in Paris and at the Elista tournament in 2018. And Asanov always proved to be more strong.

— My only professional fight took place in January 2022. I can’t say that I miss professional fights. To be honest, I didn’t have time for this – I participated in a huge number of Olympic boxing tournaments. So I didn’t even have time to ask myself if I missed the professionals. But I liked this experience. Now I will box at the tournament on March 3, then Eduard Viktorovich Kravtsov and the coaches of the national team will tell me how to move forward. I’m not the only one who decides everything. As for the meeting with Asanov itself… I can’t say that it’s really a fundamental fight. Yes, we met three times and he won. And honestly, to the point. I haven’t found a way. But time passes, we change. I hope I can do a better job now. Asanov is the most troublesome opponent for me. In my entire career, he is one of the most troublesome opponents for me,” said Mamedov, whose comments to were provided by the press service of the Russian Boxing Federation.

Asanov is a 2015 World Championship bronze medalist, 2019 European Games winner, 2015 European Games finalist, 2021 Military World Champion and 2020 Olympic Games participant.

The IBA Night of Champions tournament will be broadcast live on the channel, starting March 3 at 7:30 p.m. Moscow time. And on “Match!” The broadcast of Fighter will begin at 5:30 p.m. Moscow time.