Philippines, 08 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Light heavyweight contenders Maro Perak & Viktor Nemkov To headline M-1 Challenge 60 August 5 in Orel, Russia

PhilBoxing.com




ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (July 15, 2015) - A pair of past M-1 Challenge championship contenders, Maro "Mean Machine" Perak and Viktor Nemkov, will battle August 5 in the main event at M-1 Challenge 60 in Orel, Russia with the winner positioning himself for a potential title shot against M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan Puetz..

Perak (23-5-1, 12 KO/TKO, 7 SUB), fighting out of Croatia, is coming off tough, competitive fights against two of the best heavyweights in the world, another past M-1 Challenge title challenger, Denis Smoldarev, and reigning M-1 Challenge champion Marcin Tybura.

This past February at M-1 Challenge 55, Perak lost by submission (arm-lock) to Smoldarev in the opening round. Perak's only title fight to date was April 4, 2014, in which he was stopped in the third round by Tybura's punches.

After his aforementioned fights, Perak decided to drop down in weight to fight as a light heavyweight. He was scheduled face Rashad Yusupov last May at M-1 Challenge 57, however, a knee surgery forced Perak out of that fight and he will instead make his M-1 light heavyweight debut versus Nemkov. Perak will be looking for his first win in M-1 Global competition, fighting for the fourth time in an event presented by the highly respected Russian promotional company.

A native of Kazakhstan, now fighting out of Belgorod, Russia, Nemkov (16-8-0, 9 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) hopes the third time is the charm for him. He has lost two M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title fights, March 14, 2014 toPuetz by split decision at M-1 Challenge 46, and back in 2011 to Vinny Magalhaes by third-round submission (choke) at M-1 Challenge 25.

A veteran of 16 M-1 Global fights (9-7-0), Nemkov has been sidelined the past 1 ? years recovering from a series of injuries.

Nemkov's return and Perak's debut as a light heavyweight adds up to an explosive fight for the right to challenge Puetz.

Three other fights have been announced this far for M-1 Challenge 60: Battle in Orel. All fights and fighters are subject to change, additional bouts will soon be announced.

Polish light heavyweight Marcin Zontek (14-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) takes on Maxim Futin, of Russia, Zulfikar Usmanov (7-4-1, 1 KO/TKO, 4 SUB) faces Alexey "Ataman" Makhno (9-3-0, 4 KO/TKO, 1 SUB) in a battle of Russian lightweights, and French bantamweight Moktar Benkaci (11-6-0) meets Evgeni Lazukov (7-2-0, 1 KO/TKO, 1 SUB), of Russia.

Zontek (14-8-0, 6 KO/TKO, 5 SUB) (pictured to left) plans a spectacular comeback from his 2012 bloody fight with Sergey Korneev for the M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title. Zontek needed more than 2 ? years to fully recover from his loss but he won his last two fights going into his Aug. 5 fight.





A two-time Combat Sambo champion and European vice-champion, Futin (4-2-0, 4 KO/TKO) is an exciting fighter who often spars with Vyacheslav Vasilevky. Futin is always in great shape and known as an excellent striker.

Usmanov (pictured below left) is an experienced MMA fighter from St. Petersburg.

A powerful striker, he has twice been awarded "Fight of the Night" bonuses. Riding a five-fight win streak, Makhno is a promising prospect whose M-1 Challenge debut ended with a sensational knockout victory over Rakhman Makhazhiev (pictured below right).

In his most recent fight, Benkaci (11-7-0, 3 KO/TKO, 7 SUB) gave Nikita Chistyakov all he could handle, albeit in a loss by majority decision. Benkaci (pictured below left), whose previous fights have been at featherweight, was at a disadvantage fighting Chistyakov at lightweight. When M-1 Global launched its bantamweight division last month, dropped down to a much more comfortable weight class for him.

A seven-time European Universal Combat champion, Lazukov (pictured below right) showed his potential early, defeating UFC flyweight contender Ali Begautinov during his relatively young professional career.

M-1 Challenge 60 will be streamed live from Orel in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all of the action on their computers, as well as on Andriod and Apple smart phones and tablets.

Fight Network will air M-1 Challenge 60 live on Cablevision's Optimum TV, Grande Communications, Shentel Cable and Armstrong Cable in the U.S., as well as nationwide in Canada, Roku devices across North America, and globally in more than 30 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • “Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
    , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
    , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 04 Feb 2026
  • Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • “I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 03 Feb 2026
  • Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 03 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.