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Russian-born Welterweight Roman
“The Lion” Belaev will take on
late-substitute Nasser Athumani
of Kenya for the vacant World
Boxing Federation
Intercontinental title on
Saturday June 8 at the
Centre Sportif Obercorn in
Differdange, Luxembourg.
Belaev was originally scheduled
to take on George Ungiadze, but
the Georgian was unable to
travel due to visa problems.
Nicknamed “The Silencer”,
Athumani, in full training for
another fight and with a valid
Schengen visa, steps in to save
the day.
Only 22 years old, Belaev has
based his professional boxing
career in Germany where he has
racked up eleven straight
victories, and nine of those
inside the distance (11-0, 9
KOs). He is being hailed as a
future star, and has so far
showed great promise in the ring
with excellent technique and
power.
Last year Belaev scored his
biggest victory so far when he
decisioned current French
champion Frank Haroche Horta, a
real tough customer to get by
for a young prospect, and this
past April he claimed a minor
belt by stopping Argentinean
Nelson Fabian Pilotti in four
rounds.
The extremely experienced
Athumani, 23-9-3 (17), is a
former Kenyan and African
champion, and have also picked
up a slew of regional titles
since turning pro in 1994.
Fighting all over the world he
has shared a ring with big names
such as Timothy Bradley, Juan
Urango and Vernon Paris.
In 2011 he defeated undefeated
Turkish prospect Yavuz Ertuerk
(11-0), and last year he scored
a draw with Azerbaijani Azad
Azizov (25-3-1) and lost
competitive decisions to Rico
Mueller (12-1-1) and Patrick
Bogere (10-1) to show that he
still has a lot to offer.
With these two big punchers
clashing, it is almost a
certainty that fireworks will
break out and that someone will
get knocked out. Will the young
Lion prevail, or will he be
silenced by the experience and
Southpaw-power of Athumani?
The fight will be promoted by
B.C. Rubino Gym Differdange.
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