Unbeaten Russian heavyweight Artem Suslenkov and former cruiserweight world title challenger Artur Mann will headline the IBA.PRO 16 in a 10-round bout for the WBA continental title at the Nadezhda Sports Palace in Serpukhov, Russia this Friday.
Suslenkov (13-0, 8 KOs) is currently ranked in 13th place by the WBA and will push up the rankings if victorious this Friday. The 30-year-old from Volgograd retired Croatia’s Agron Smakici in five rounds last October, having previously got through a a ten round majority decision against Jack Mulowayi in Moscow.
Mann (23-5, 14 KOs) makes his second straight appearance at heavyweight having spent much of his career at cruiserweight. The 35-year-old residing in Hannover, Germany, scored a first round knockout against a 12-3-1 Venezuelan, Gregory Garcia, in February. Mann had previously lost a seventh-round stoppage against Sergey Kovalev last April. Although having always campaigned at the top of the division, Mann has struggled when stepping up his opposition with losses to Muslim Gadzhimagomedov, Evgeny Tishchenko, Kevin Lerena and Mairis Briedis.
On the undercard Yuri Osipov (5-0, 4 KOs) squares off against road-warrior, Michael King (8-4-1, 6 KOs), over six rounds in the middleweight division.
Russian welterweight Nikita Miroshnichenko (16-2-1, 5 KOs) will take on countryman Alexander Khokhlov (4-1-1, 1 KO) over eight rounds. Miroshnichenko has previously served as a sparring partner for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and trained in Guadalajara with Eddy and Chepo Reynoso. And unbeaten Russian Mikhail Grigoryan (8-0, 2 KOs) welcomes the Philippines’ Joe Santisima (26-9, 22 KOs) in a 10-round contest for the IBF Asia lightweight title.
Serpukhov favorite Sergey Kalchugin (5-0, 3 KOs) will appear on the card against Jamshid Khudoyberganov at heavyweight. Also featured is Danila Belevitin, one of the city’s most promising fighters, a bronze medallist at the 2026 Russian Cup and a finalist at the 2025 Russian Championships.
The full event will be broadcast for free on the IBA Boxing YouTube channel.
