Philippines, 13 Nov 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ALI AKHMEDOV TO FACE ENCARNACION DIAZ IN WORLD-CLASS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DUAL ON THIS THURSDAY’S “BIG TIME BOXING USA,” EVENT, PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS

PhilBoxing.com





Detroit’s Bad Boys in Action Thursday, May 23
LIVE ON DAZN * WAYNE STATE FIELDHOUSE * DETROIT

Jermaine Franklin Returns Against Devin Vargas in Main Event; Battle of Undefeated Super Lightweights Joshua James Pagan & Roger Hilley for NABF Championship

Tickets on Sale Now!

DETROIT – May 20, 2024 – Salita Promotions has made a significant late addition to the televised lineup of “Big Time Boxing USA” fights this Thursday night (May 23), as world-class super middleweight Ali Akhmedov will take on always-tough Encarnacion “Demoledor” Diaz in a 10-round bout from Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit and live on premier global sports platform DAZN (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

Akhmedov (20-1, 15 KOs), of Venice, California, via Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Diaz (18-4, 11 KOs) of San Jose, Costa Rica via Nicaragua, will meet in support of top American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin Jr.’s (22-2, 14 KOs) 10-round main event battle against former U.S. Olympian Devin Vargas (22-10, 9 KOs) and an intriguing eight-round co-feature between undefeated former national amateur champion Joshua James Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and fellow undefeated prospect Roger Hilley (13-0, 8 KOs) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Junior NABF Super Lightweight Championship.

Promoted by GGG Promotions, Akhmedov’s biggest career win so far came in late 2022, as he defeated veteran Gabriel Rosado for the IBF North American and WBC Silver Super Middleweight Championships by dominant 10-round decision at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on the undercard of his hero and countryman, Gennady Golovkin’s, final fight against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Akhmedov’s most recent ring appearance was a quick second-round knockout of Venezuela’s then 26-3-1 Carlos Rivero in April of this year.

Making the first US ring appearance of his nearly eight-year pro career, Diaz will already be having his third fight this year. In January, he decisioned Edwin Vargas over eight rounds and then in March, he needed just two rounds to dispatch Nicaragua’s Celso Ocampo. After losing his pro debut, Diaz has gone on to win 18 of his next 21 contests, beginning in the welterweight division and going as high as light heavyweight.

“This is an excellent addition to an already packed night of boxing,” said event promoter Dmitriy Salita. “Thanks to GGG and Tom Loeffler for their cooperation in making it happen for the fans in attendance and around the world. The addition of this fight just further demonstrates our willingness, and fulfills my personal promise, to work with all promoters to make the best and most important fights in boxing. I believe this is best for the fighters’ careers and for the sport of boxing. This week’s card is the biggest and best BIG TIME BOXING USA event yet!”

True to BIG TIME BOXING’s emerging format, several local prospects will appear in the night’s supporting televised bouts, including Detroit’s undefeated “Hitman 2.0” Da’Velle Smith (8-0, 6 KOs).

Tickets for the live event are on sale now and can be purchased online HERE or in-person at the Wayne State Fieldhouse Box Office.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • ROUND 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Gathering Of Legends
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Antonio draws with England's Arkell in Spain chess tiff
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • NBA announces the new format to All Star Game
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Xander Zayas & Abass Baraou Face Off Ahead of January 31 Title Unification Showdown in San Juan, Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • Historic Turnout at the 1st Tigerhead Rapid Open Chess Tournament in Laos
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 13 Nov 2025
  • The Hammer Returns to the Fray With a Bang
    By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Monzón and Coggi are new Argentina Boxing Hall of Fame members
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • GM Antonio moves to 2nd in Spain chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Teflon Promotion to host Re:Play Volume 1 on November 22nd at The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 10 NOVEMBER 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • FLORES AND CORDINA PREDICT KO NIGHT IN STOCKTON
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Lightweight Prospect Charley Leigh Brown Added To Hunter Vs Frankham Card 5th December
    , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Mavericks' Cooper Flagg becomes the second 18-year-old player to score 25 points
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • Sit back and enjoy, "Bata' Reyes book is out
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 12 Nov 2025
  • 'THE RING: UNFINISHED BUSINESS': CHRIS EUBANK JR-CONOR BENN II FIGHT WEEK LAUNCHES WITH INTENSE LONDON FACE-OFF
    , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • OKC Thunder Quickly Grabs League Lead; Competition Performing Per Formchart
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Reyes rules 17th edition of Kamatyas FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • SPORTS RECORDS 11: NONITO DONAIRE'S TWO KNOCKOUTS OF THE YEAR
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • HIGHLAND BOXING PROMOTIONS OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON JEFF MAYWEATHER'S POSTPONED THAILAND VISIT
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Robert Racasa Finishes 9th in World Memory Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Luisito “Lindol” Espinosa and the Art of Playing Boxing
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Island Time: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight World Title Unification Showdown Set For January 31 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
    , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Kyle Lowry becomes the 12th player with 20 seasons or more in the NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 11 Nov 2025
  • Donaire awaits WBA decision
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 10 Nov 2025
  • Joel “lethal” Lewis inks Managerial deal with Dragon Fire Boxing
    , Mon, 10 Nov 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.