Arslanbek Makhmudov had a simple yet direct response to the reason for his quick turnaround.
“Listen, it’s my job to punch people in the face,” the unbeaten heavyweight told DAZN’s Ade Oladipo and Darren Barker after his open workout Wednesday evening.
The 34-year-old Makhmudov (18-0, 17KOs) will enjoy his third fight of 2023, all within a span of less than six months. Saturday’s scheduled ten-round bout versus Germany’s Agit Kabayel (23-0, 15KOs) comes just eight weeks after his 70-round destruction of Junior Wright as part of the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou Pay-Per-View event from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Makhmudov returns to the same city this weekend with the intention of enjoying a third early night on the year amd fourth in a row.
Prior to his blitzing of Wright, the Montreal-based Russian floored unbeaten Raphael Akpejiori three times in a second-round knockout on a July 1 ESPN show from Toledo, Ohio. The event marked his U.S. debut and ended a seven-month inactive stretch.
“I like to stay busy. Boxing is all that I do,” noted Makhmudov, who has scored three straight knockouts since his lone distance win versus Carlos Takam last September in Montreal. “I don’t really like to take time off. I prefer to stay active.”
Kayabel steps well up in class for the bout, though he comes with benefits. The 31-year-old from Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany is ranked among the Top 15 by the WBA, IBF and WBO, which will help Makhmudov—who is ranked by all four—further advance as hopes to challenge for a major title within his next few fights.
“I need these types of fights for my career. I need tough opponents. For me, this a very good fight.”
Makhmudov-Kabayel is part of an eight-fight ‘Day of Reckoning’ PPV event this Saturday (4:00 p.m. GMT/11:00 a.m. ET) from Kingdom Arena in Riyadh. It is also one of six heavyweight fights on the show, co-headlined by Anthony Joshua-Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder-Joseph Parker.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox