On September 8th, undefeated Russian lightweight Roman Andreev will end a long layoff against a difficult opponent, Zaur Adbullaev of Armenia. The ten-round bout will be the main event at the Traktor Sport Palace,in Chelyabinsk, Russia.  The 37 year-old Andreev will face have first fight in more than two years. The last time he saw action was in mid-2021, when he defeated Nicaragua's Freddy Fonseca by unanimous decision. Andreev (25-0 with 17 KOs) has a run of four knockouts in his last six victories. Three of those knockouts came before the third round.  Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Abdullaev (17-1, 10 KOs) has been much more active, this being his second fight of 2023. He defeated Panama's Ricardo Nuñez by unanimous decision at the beginning of the year. 

 

Abdullaev, age 29, has a signature win over former three-division champion Jorge Linares at the beginning of 2022. Likewise, he has a unanimous decision victory over former lightweight title holder Dejan Zlaticanin. Abdullaev's only defeat as a professional was against the reigning world lightweight champion, Devin Haney, who defeated him by knockout in the fourth round in mid-2019.