IBA PRO 19 will take place on Saturday, 11 July at VTB Arena in Moscow, bringing together championship boxing, leading heavyweights, international contenders and IBA Bare Knuckle bouts on one fight card.

The event will be headlined by WBA heavyweight world champion Murat “Iron” Gassiev (RUS), who will defend his title against German heavyweight Peter Kadiru (GER) in the main event.

Kadiru has stepped in after Tony Yoka (FRA) was forced to withdraw from the scheduled world title bout due to a back injury. The Hamburg native now receives a major opportunity on one of the strongest IBA PRO cards of the year, with the WBA heavyweight title on the line.

Gassiev enters the contest as the reigning champion, having captured the belt with a spectacular sixth-round knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev (BUL) at IBA PRO 13 in December. That win made the 32-year-old the first Russian heavyweight world champion in more than a decade and confirmed his place among the most dangerous punchers in the division.

With a professional record of 33-2, including 26 knockouts, Gassiev returns to Moscow to make the first defence of the title that brought him back to the top level of the heavyweight landscape.

Kadiru, meanwhile, arrives with a record of 23-1, including 13 knockouts, and strong ambitions of his own. Fresh from a unanimous decision victory over Senad Gashi (GER) in May, the German heavyweight has established himself as one of the most recognisable names in his country’s division and will travel to Moscow looking to produce a major upset.

The main event promises a compelling heavyweight contest between two powerful boxers capable of changing the fight at any moment. For Gassiev, it is a chance to defend his title on home soil. For Kadiru, it is an opportunity to transform his career with one victory.

In the co-main event, Artem Suslenkov (RUS) will face Joe Joyce (GBR) in a 12-round heavyweight bout for the WBA Continental title.

The card will also feature two IBA Bare Knuckle bouts, adding another combat sports format to the evening’s programme at VTB Arena.