Lausanne, Switzerland — The full eight-bout card has been confirmed for International Boxing Day, which will bring three days of boxing activities to Astana, Kazakhstan, culminating in fight night at the Zh. Ushkempirov Palace of Martial Arts on 28 August.
Organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA) and NOMAD, the card features five professional boxing contests and three IBA NOMAD bouts in MMA gloves, showcasing a mix of local stars and international talent, including world champions.
Two-time IBA world champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay (KAZ) will headline the night as he makes his professional debut against Neel Jacamos (PHI), with the IBF Asia flyweight title at stake.
Tashkenbay has already established himself among the leading boxers of his generation, winning IBA World Championships gold in 2023 and 2025 as well as the Asian title in 2022. He will now begin the next stage of his career with a ten-round championship contest on home soil. Jacamos arrives from the Philippines having previously competed for the Philippine Youth light flyweight title.
The co-main event will feature a championship rematch between IBA NOMAD bantamweight champion Aidos “Alim” Japparbergenov (KAZ) and former champion Almaz Nurgali (KAZ). Their first meeting ended in a draw, leaving the rivalry unresolved and setting up a second five-round encounter in Astana.
Two-time IBA World Champion and Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Saken Bibossinov (KAZ) will also feature on the card. The Kazakh boxer is set for an eight-round professional contest against experienced Namibian Immanuel Josef (NAM), who has competed for regional WBA and WBO titles during his professional career.
Another international eight-round contest will see unbeaten Vadim Tukov (RUS) face Eddy Colmenares (VEN). Tukov holds the WBA Gold title, while Colmenares has previously won the WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino titles.
Unbeaten Vasile Cebotari (MDA) will put his perfect 19-0 professional record on the line against Jose Miguel Borrego (MEX). Cebotari, a European U22 Champion, European Championships bronze medallist, and former WBC Youth Champion, faces an experienced Mexican opponent who holds the IBA Americas title and is a five-time Mexican amateur champion.
Yerkebulan Toktar (KAZ) will take on Bobirzhon Isroilov (UZB) over four rounds. Isroilov brings extensive combat sports experience to the contest as a Muay Thai World Champion with a 47-3 record, alongside an unbeaten start to his professional boxing career.
Three contests will take place under the IBA NOMAD format in MMA gloves. Alongside the Japparbergenov-Nurgali title rematch, Kanat Kulmagambetov (KAZ) will meet Timur Abdurakhmanov (RUS), while Ruslan Madiev (KAZ) faces Imran Agaev (KAZ). Both bouts are scheduled for three rounds.
International Boxing Day fight card
Professional boxing
Sanzhar Tashkenbay (KAZ) vs Neel Jacamos (PHI) — 10 rounds, IBF Asia flyweight title
Saken Bibossinov (KAZ) vs Immanuel Josef (NAM) — 8 rounds
Vadim Tukov (RUS) vs Eddy Colmenares (VEN) — 8 rounds
Vasile Cebotari (MDA) vs Jose Miguel Borrego (MEX) — 8 rounds
Yerkebulan Toktar (KAZ) vs Bobirzhon Isroilov (UZB) — 4 rounds
IBA NOMAD (MMA gloves)
Aidos “Alim” Japparbergenov (KAZ) vs Almaz Nurgali (KAZ) — 5 rounds, IBA NOMAD bantamweight title
Kanat Kulmagambetov (KAZ) vs Timur Abdurakhmanov (RUS) — 3 rounds
Ruslan Madiev (KAZ) vs Imran Agaev (KAZ) — 3 rounds
Fight night will be the culmination of a three-day International Boxing Day programme in Astana.
An open workout will take place at Khan Shatyr on 26 August. The celebrations will continue on 27 August with a boxing festival featuring the official weigh-in, face-offs, a press conference, fan activities, and an entertainment programme. The eight-bout card will then take place at the Zh. Ushkempirov Palace of Martial Arts on 28 August.
Tickets are available through Ticketon.kz.
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