Buglioni Gets Surprise World Title Shot against Fedor Chudinov

By Olly Campbell - 06/16/2015 - Comments

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Yesterday, the recent world title rumors that had surfaced on social media regarding Enfileld’s Frank Buglioni became a reality when promoter Frank Warren announced that the “Wise Guy” will indeed get a shot at newly crowned WBA (Reg) 168 lb champion Fedor Chudinov on July 24th from the SSE Arena in London.

Buglioni had been due to face domestic rival Lee Markham in an immediate rematch of their FOTY candidate just 6 weeks ago, however, in something of a promotional master stroke, Warren has managed to maneuver Buglioni into position for a hometown challenge against the Russian, who himself won the belt in May when he shocked the seasoned Felix Sturm over a 12 round SD. It was just Chudinov’s 13th outing as a professional.

There has been an outcry from some quarters over social media, with many questioning how a fighter who is yet to hold the Lonsdale belt can secure a bone fide world title shot without seemingly having earned the privilige. Buglioni is the current WBO European 168 lb champ.

However, one cannot blame Buglioni himself, who surely would have been mad to turn down such an opportunity – and given that the Russian fighter is a relative novice professional himself – all the signs point toward this essentially being a 50/50 fight.

Frank said of the opportunity to iFLtv’s Kugan Cassius;

“I’m absolutely relishing this chance to perform and go out there and win a world title.”

“Obviously I was looking forward to the rematch with Lee Markham, it’s unfinished business. (The fight was a draw) But I’m sure that will come along down the line. As I’ve said, it could now be a bigger fight, but when an opportunity to fight for a world title comes along – you take it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEIjBqxWs-I

Buglioni, who has a (16-1-1, 12ko) slate of his own, addressed the issue of whether or not he is indeed ready to go in with a guy who just beat a tough former world champion – even if Chudinov is ostensibly the less experienced fighter.

“Yeah, without a doubt. I’ve always been able to raise my game to the occasion, especially when I’m the underdog. I did it time and time again in the amateurs and I’m in a very good place right now. I’ve put pressure on myself before and not shown what I can do in the gym but now the pressure’s off. I’m just going in there to win.”

Buglioni, who is now trained by Paschal Collins – brother of former super middle boss, Steve – will indeed send out shock waves if he can dethrone the Russian, and in fairness, if he is to get a shot at a world title – then Chudinov is far and away the most beatable of all the champions at the weight.

Not as crude as his brother Dmitry, who was eventually stopped against Chris Eubank Jr in February, Fedor Chudinov still looks pretty rudimentary plodding forward at times, often staying stagnant and preferring to fight on the inside, though against Sturm he also showed something his brother didn’t – and that’s an ability to get up on his toes and listen to the corner and change tack when required.

He carries more than respectable power, which could also prove problematic for Frank, whose defence is certainly leaky at times – and the Russian is very confident going into the fight, telling the assembled press;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUzh_-7l77E

“I have no problem coming to London and defending my title against Buglioni. I will have to break his heart in his home city.”

The fight will be live and exclusive on Boxnation in the UK.

Twitter @Undilutedpoison