Mumbai: It’s now or never for the Venky’s Mumbai Fighters. Requiring three more wins from the next five matches, the Indian franchise will meet Baku Fires in Baku, Azerbaijan on March 10th in the away leg of their quarterfinals. After securing a 3-2 at home in the first quarterfinal in Mumbai last week, Fighters will have to win the away leg with a similar margin or more to qualify for the semifinals.
In eventuality of tie, i.e. if Baku Fires win 3-2, there will be a sudden death bout in the Light Heavyweight category. Jasveer Singh will represent the Venky’s Mumbai Fighters taking on Teymur Mammadov from Baku. Teymur, a silver medalist at 2011 World Championships, will be making his WSB debut if he has to fight.
Joe Clough, Technical Director, Venky’s Mumbai Fighters said, “We are not worried about the sudden death bout. It is important that we take one bout at a time.” After upsetting the firebrand team from Azerbaijan in the home leg, it isn’t surprising that Fighters are determined to repeat their feat in their away match too.
Ukranian Ivan Ilnytskyy will open the match for Venky’s Mumbai Fighters in Bantamweight category against Magomed Kurbanov. Magomed has fought only once this season and come out victorious.
In Lightweight category, India’s Diwakar Prasad will face Isa Isayev. Diwakar made a winning debut against Milano Thunder in the opening match but was handed technical knockouts (TKOs) twice in his next two bouts this season. On the other hand, Isa is making his WSB debut.
Konstantin Snigour, Fighters’ middleweight pugilist, has fought twice and won both. He will face Heybulla Mursalov who has won five out of six bouts this season, including two TKOs.
In the Light Heavyweight category, Leanid Charnabayeu will represent Venky’s Mumbai Fighters taking on Ramazan Magomedau. The Baku Fires boxer is ranked No.2 in WSB with an impressive 8-0 win record.
Paul Koon will don the Gold and Black of Fighters in the Heavyweight category. In the away leg of the quarterfinal, he will fight Denys Poyatsyka who was a Light Heavyweight boxer for Baku till last season and will fight for the first time in the Heavyweight category.
Match line-up
Baku Fires vs Mumbai Fighters
Bantamweight
Magomed Kurbanov vs Ivan Ilnytskyy
Lightweight
Isa Isayev vs Diwakar Prasad
Middleweight
Heybulla Mursalov vs Konstantin Snigour
Light Heavyweight
Ramazan Magomedau vs Leanid Charnabayeu
Heavyweight
Denys Poyatsyka vs Paul Koon
Sudden Death Bout
Light Heavyweight
Teymur Mammadov vs Jasveer Singh
