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IBA Champions Night

IBA Champions’ Night to feature faceoff between Sofiane Oumiha and Nicolas Blanco for the WBA Intercontinental Title

September 22nd, 2023 / IBA Champions Night

Three-time World Champion Sofiane Oumiha from France will face a professional boxer from Argentina Nicolas Blanco in a 12-round title bout for the WBA Intercontinental Title at the IBA Champions’ Night in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The event will take place on 23 September at Chapiteau de Fontvieille.

Blanco has 9 victories and zero losses in his professional record, while Oumiha has 3 victories on the professional ring in addition to his titles at multiple IBA events. ‘I’m happy and proud, I can’t wait to be there to do what I do best in the ring,’ Oumiha commented.

Local boxer Hugo Micallef (7-0) will have his 8th pro fight in 6 rounds against Denis Bartos (12-7) from Czech Republic and first fight at his home ring. ‘It is an honour for me to put my mark in history as the first-ever Monegasque professional boxer. I’m highly proud to be able to perform in my country and in front of my family and friends for the very first time in my professional career. I can’t wait to be surrounded by those excellent IBA boxers as well as the other professionals,’ Micallef commented.

Full fight card of the evening:

  • Sofiane Oumiha (FRA) vs Nicolas Blanco (ARG)
  • Hugo Micallef (FRA) vs Denis Bartos (CZ)
  • Albert Ramirez (VEN) vs Lenin Castillo (DOM)
  • Ibrahima Diallo (BEL) vs Pierre Rossadini (FRA)
  • Marko Milun (HRV) vs Arzola Lopez Fernando Alejandro (CUB)
  • Azziz Abbes Mouhidine (ITA) vs Narek Manasyan (ARM)
  • Arlen Lopez (CUB) vs Gradus Kraus (NED)
  • Pavel Fedorov (RUS) vs Malik Hasanov (AZE)
  • Rayis Nurkanat (KAZ) vs Salvatore Cavallaro (ITA)
  • Lasha Guruli (GEO) vs Alexandr Paraschiv (MDA)

In the other spectacular fight, IBA World Championships bronze medallist Narek Manasyan from Armenia will challenge Italian Aziz Abbes Mouhiidine, a two-time silver medallist, in their 92kg division rematch. The pro-style format of the bouts will add another level of intrigue, as men face each other in 5 round-contests, where each round lasts 3 minutes. 

Cuban super heavyweight IBA World Championships silver medallist Fernando Arzola Lopez will go into the ring against Mark Milun from Croatia. In 67kg, two-time World Championships bronze medallist from Georgia Lasha Guruli is opposed by Alexandru Paraschiv from Moldova, who is European Championships bronze medallist.

Italian World Championships bronze medallist Salvatore Cavallaro fights against Asian Championships runner-up Nurkanat Raiys from Kazakhstan in the 75kg weight category. Cuban World champion and two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez is to go into the ring against Gradus Kraus, who is a prospect from the Netherlands in the 80kg division.

You can join us in person by getting your tickets here or you can watch the event livestream on its dedicated page.