“I’m coming to get back what belongs to me.”
Murodjon Akhmadaliev was direct and to the point when he spoke of his immediate mission during Thursday’s press conference for his WBA title eliminator versus Kevin Gonzalez. The former unified junior featherweight titlist is set for his revenge tour, as a win this weekend puts him directly in line for one of the two belts he lost this year to Marlon Tapales.
Akhmadaliev-Gonzalez is part of a four-fight DAZN telecast headlined by the Sunny Edwards-Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez IBF/WBO flyweight unification championship this Saturday from Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
The bout is the first for the 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist since his disputed defeat to Tapales this past April 8 in San Antonio. Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev (11-1, 8KOs) dropped a twelve-round, split decision to end his WBA and IBF title reign, though many felt he was unlucky to not get the nod.
Tapales immediately cashed in those chips. The Filipino is set to face four-division and reigning WBC/WBO 122-pound champ Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22KOs) in an undisputed championship clash set for December 26 in Tokyo. Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn—whose company promoted that April 8 show and presents this weekend’s event—openly spoke of how the Uzbek southpaw was robbed that night and should be facing Inoue later this month.
A win over Culiacan’s Gonzalez (26-0-1, 13KOs) will at least get him back in line through the mandatory challenger route.
“Of course, I am on the same page as Eddie,” stated Akhmadaliev, who held the titles for more than three years. “I thought I won my previous fight. I know I gave away some of the earlier rounds but thought I dominated from round five through the end.
“None of that matters anymore. I have a tough opponent in front of me. He is the best out of all the available challengers. This will bring out the best in me.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. X (formerly Twitter): @JakeNDaBox