The fight between the former Venezuelan world champion, Roger Gutiérrez and the difficult Russian, Zaur Abdullaev, on Saturday, February 10, is now official.
The duel will be the Zuliano’s debut in the lightweight 10 rounds as the main fight of the event to be held in Yekaterinburg, Russia. It is worth mentioning that the event, organized by the Eurasian promoter RCC Boxing Promotions, claims to have the best exponents of Russian boxing.
Maracaibo native Roger Andrés Gutiérrez will return to action after a bittersweet 2023. The former champion of the pioneer organization defeated the Dominican Henry Delgado (20-2) by knockout in the second round last March, winning the Fedelatin title in his homeland.
He earned the opportunity to fight in the eliminatory to regain 130 pounds. belt against the undefeated Georgian, Otar Eranosyan (14-0/7 KO). However, the Venezuelan ended up falling by knockout in the eighth round in Florida.
Roger (27-5-1/21 KO), 28 years old, has a knockout power of over 70%. He is on a winning streak of three fights, one knockout and two losses in his last five outings.
The tough Russian, currently residing in Armenia, Zaur Abdullaev, like his opponent, saw action on a couple of occasions during 2023. In March he defeated the Panamanian Ricardo Núñez (23-6) by unanimous decision, and in his last fight until The moment he defeated his compatriot Roman Andreev (25-1) by knockout in the third round, snatching his perfect rhythm in the ring.
The last time Abdullaev fought against a Venezuelan was against the emblematic Jorge “The Golden Boy” Linares, where the European won by knockout in the last round of the fight at the beginning of 2022.
Zaur (18-1/11 KO), 29, has knockout power slightly above 60%. He also has a more than favorable streak of seven consecutive victories, four of them by knockout. His only loss so far was to American lightweight champion Devin Haney by knockout in the fourth round.