James ‘Jazza’ Dickens produced a career-best performance to stun Albert Batyrgaziev via fourth-round knockout at a star-studded IBA.Pro 7 event in Istanbul, Türkiye.

With ringside observers such as pound-for-pound star Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford and heavyweight icon Tyson Fury, the bout — scheduled for twelve rounds for the WBA Interim and IBA.Pro super-featherweight titles — began at an electric pace with both men landing heavy blows from the opening bell.

However, Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs) would take control of the fight in the third round, targeting the mid-section of the previously unbeaten Batyrgaziev (12-1, 8 KOs), before unleashing a thunderous left hand in the fourth to send the 2020 Olympic gold medallist crashing to the canvas.

Despite a brave effort from the Russian champion, Dickens would not be denied, scoring another vicious knockdown to send Batyrgaziev through the ropes and almost on to the floor.

 Though he managed to beat the count for a second time, the towel would come in from the Batyrgaziev corner shortly afterwards, handing the Brit the stoppage victory at 2:26 of the fourth round.

 ‘Thank you, Jesus. I always believed in what the Lord had planned for me. Even when it was hard, I believed in the Lord’s will,’ Dickens said after his sensational upset victory.

 ‘There was a point the second round where I changed up my tactics, because the tactics I implemented weren’t the tactics that we went in with, but I saw something. My coach said to me ‘I see what you’re doing, it’s working. Stick with that,’ – and we changed the tactics after round two.’

 ‘Me and my dad started off together, training in the house. None of this would be possible if my father didn’t believe in me. The man I am is because of the belief he showed in me… and now I’m world champion!’

 IBA President Umar Kremlev graciously congratulated Dickens after the end of the contest, praising the boxer’s skill and determination in overcoming his formidable opponent, before discussing a potential rematch between the two men in the future.

 ‘You are a true fighter and a true boxer,’ Kremlev told Dickens.

 ‘This is boxing. The best wins. He [Batyrgaziev] had to prepare better and train better. You are the best, he is the best, you are two strong boxers. Let him train and practice and we can have a rematch. We are ready to organize it.

 ‘My congratulations to you on the victory, so let’s get ready for the next event!’

 Elsewhere on the undercard, unbeaten super-lightweight contender Hovhannes Bachkov dominated the teak-tough Xolisani Ndongeni to score a ninth-round TKO victory.

 Bachkov, who moved to 8-0 (7 KOs) with the win, delivered a merciless body attack throughout, hurting Ndongeni on several occasions with a series of thudding left-hooks to the mid-section.

 The finish would come in the penultimate round, when another violent body attack sent Ndongeni crumpling to the canvas, forcing the match-up to be waved off at 1:33 of the ninth.

Uzbek cruiserweight talent Madiyar Saydrakhimov continued his unblemished start to life as a professional but had to survive a fifth-round knockdown en-route to a UD6 victory over Ahmad Mustafayev.

2024 Paris Olympian Mizhgona Samadova impressed on her IBA.Pro debut, with the Tajik outpointing Puneh Akhundtabarmazandarani of Iran over six in their light-flyweight contest.

Kazakh lightweight Milana Safronova produced a clinical display over six, dropping Türkiye’s Gulsum Tatar in the fifth round before securing a comprehensive points win in their IBA.Pro bout.

In the evening’s bare-knuckle offering, Turkish banger Murat Kazgan outpointed Australia’s Will Chope over three, while Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kokhanchik dropped Elnur Suleymanov of Azerbaijan in the opener before securing a three round decision win.

__________________

Media contacts:

Elena Sobol, Head of Communications and PR, International Boxing Association: elena.sobol@iba.sport