Dmitriy Salita is eager for boxing fans to witness what he has long seen in Ali Izmailov.
The undefeated Russian light heavyweight contender has just 10 fights on his professional record, but he is already ranked fifth by the IBF and 11th by the WBO. Izmailov (10-0, 7 KOs) will fight for the first time on American television Friday night, though, when he’ll encounter Charles Foster (22-0, 12 KOs) in a 10-round fight for Izmailov’s USBA 175-pound championship.
Showtime will air Izmailov-Foster as the main event of a “ShoBox: The New Generation” tripleheader from Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York (9 p.m. EDT).
“This is a chance for Ali to showcase himself to a U.S. audience,” Salita, Izmailov’s promoter, told BoxingScene.com. “What people will see is that Ali is a big puncher. He’s a very physically strong fighter, but he’s also very skilled. He does the shoulder roll, his defense and his jab and his feints are good. He’s very exciting and his boxing IQ is very good. I can say what I say and Ali can say what he says, but seeing is believing.
“He is the best light heavyweight in the world. I would be comfortable putting him in there with Beterbiev or Bivol. He’s that good. This is a big step [against Foster], but [trainer] John David Jackson said the same thing, that he’s ready for the big guys. He’s blue-chip. He’s a special talent.”
Russia’s Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) owns the IBF and WBO belts for which the 30-year-old Izmailov is a ranked contender. Russia’s Dmitry Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) holds the WBA 175-pound championship.
The 33-year-old Foster, a southpaw from New Haven, Connecticut, is ranked 14th among the IBF’s light heavyweight contenders. Other than two opponents who made their pro debuts against him, Izmailov is the first opponent Foster will face who doesn’t have at least either a loss or a draw on his record.
“For me, the biggest pressure and I think the thing I’m most excited about is that I’m finally getting a chance to fight on television,” Izmailov told BoxingScene.com. “And that’s why I need to showcase myself, because this fight is on American television and such a big event. This is kind of my introduction to the world of boxing on the big stage. And this is why it’s so important and why I’m gonna make a statement, to make sure everyone knows who I am.”
Two more unbeaten light heavyweights, Seattle’s Richard Vansiclen (13-0-1, 6 KOs) and Colombia’s Juan Carrillo (10-0, 8 KOs), are set to fight in Showtime’s 10-round co-feature before Izmailov faces Foster. This “ShoBox” broadcast will begin with an eight-rounder in which Australian light heavyweight prospect Clay Waterman (10-0, 8 KOs) will encounter Kenmon Evans (10-0-1, 8 KOs), of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.