After tedious January, Russian fight scene will definitely warm up the next month and Feb. 22 tournament in Izhevsk seems to be its apotheosis. Fresh news is coming from the undercard part of the event. Russian super middleweight champion Konstantin Piternov (8-0, 1 KOs) will most probably collide with Ghanaian veteran James Obede Toney (23-3-1, 19 KOs) in a ten-round fight that has all tools to become a thriller, while Azad Azizov (22-2-1, 13 KOs) clashes against Kenyan hard nut Geoffrey Gaya (4-2, 1 KOs) in a scheduled eight-rounder.

One of the soundest names to be featured is Ukrainian Yuri Barashian (25-5, 17 KOs). This light heavyweight is best known for his spirited efforts in world title fights against WBO champion Zsolt Erdei last January and versus Hugo Hernan Garay in a clash for a vacant WBA 175lb belt a year and a half before. Despite having five losses on his resume the 30-year old Ukrainian has never been stopped and now, after a year-long layoff, he is ready to make another run at title.

“I’ll be back on Feb. 22 either in Moscow or in Izhevsk in an eight-rounder and I still shall be competing as a light heavyweight”, said Barashyan to turnir.com.ua. “I have no promoter right now but I hope to sign with Vladimir Hryunov who agreed to take a look at my skills in February. If successful against ever dangerous unknown I will most probably be contracted by this Russian promoter”.