Elite professional boxers from around the world have announced their full readiness to participate in "Champions Night 13", scheduled for Friday in Dubai. This event is one of the main highlights of the "UAE 2025" Elite Men's World Boxing Championship, with a total prize pool of eight million dollars, making it one of the biggest boxing nights of the year.
These announcements were made during an expanded press conference attended by media representatives from around the world. The participating boxers expressed great enthusiasm and confidence in delivering an exceptional night that will meet the expectations of fans. They also praised Dubai's advanced infrastructure and described the level of organization as "perfect".
Umar Kremlev, President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), stated that Dubai's selection to host this global event reflects the federation's trust in the city's ability to provide a unique organizational experience. He added: "The UAE has become a central hub for hosting major sporting events, especially with the momentum surrounding the Elite World Championship and the parallel General Assembly (Congress) being held in Dubai alongside the tournament."
The main event will be the heavyweight bout for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title between Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev and Russian Murat Gassiev. This fight is described as one of the most powerful of the year due to the immense physical strength and significant experience of both fighters in major bouts.
Also, Tajik Bakodur Usmonov will face British Maxi Hughes in a highly anticipated lightweight title fight. Meanwhile, Uzbekistani boxer Shakhobidin Zoirov will return to face Venezuelan Yoel Finol in a rematch for the bantamweight title, with high expectations for a competitive match.
The event will also feature a rematch between Russian Kharyton Agreba and Argentine Neri Munoiz in the super lightweight division, as well as a strong fight between Russian Vadim Musaev and South African Thobani Mbinge in the middleweight division. The fight is expected to be one of the most exciting of the night, given the fighters' aggressive styles and their quest for a significant victory in their careers.
During his speech, Kremlev confirmed that "Champions Night" is part of a comprehensive boxing festival hosted by Dubai this year. He emphasized that the list of participants was chosen with extreme care, considering the history and level of each boxer, making the night poised to be one of the most significant stops on the 2025 boxing calendar.
He said: "Fans are in for a night that will be unforgettable, thanks to the quality of the fights and the high readiness of the boxers, as well as the immense capabilities that Dubai offers to organize events of this magnitude."
