26.05.05 – Two undefeated and world-ranked heavyweight champions from eastern Europe–Sultan Ibragimov and Timor Ibragimov–appear in separate title bouts on the nationally and internationally televised “Guilty Fight Night” card promoted by Guilty Boxing Friday, June 24, at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev..
The Ibragimovs, who are cousins, face a pair of big hitters. Sultan defends his World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific heavyweight championship against Jimmy Joseph of Trinidad and Tobago in a 12-round fight while Timor defends his World Boxing Council Fecarbox heavyweight title against Rogerio Lobo of Brazil in a 10-round bout.
The 30-year-old Sultan Ibragimov, originally from Russia, has a record of 16-0 with 14 knockouts and is ranked No. 7 by the WBO while Timor Ibragimov, also 30 years old and from Uzbekistan, has a mark of 18-0-1 with 10 knockouts and is rated No. 18 by the WBC.
Both Ibragimovs are managed by Boris Grimberg, trained by “Panama” Lewis and represented in the United States by Sampson Lewkowicz.
The 35-year-old Joseph has a record of 15-3-1 with 14 knockouts while the 34-year-old Lobo, from Sao Paulo, has a mark of 34-12 with 29 knockouts. Among Lobo’s bouts is one against former World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
The two championship bouts will be part of Guilty Boxing’s “Guilty Fight Night” telecast and seen live in Moscow, Russia.
Both Ibragimovs have been busy. This will be the eighth bout for Sultan and the 11th for Timor since the start of 2004. And this will be the 11th time they have appeared on the same card.
Sultan Ibragimov, a southpaw, won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific heavyweight championship during 2004 with a third-round knockout of Najee Shaheed. Sultan defended successfully against James Walton during 2004 and against former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Al Cole and Zuri Lawrence this year. All wins came by knockout, including Sultan’s most recent outing against Lawrence April 22.
Timur Ibragimov won the vacant WBC Fecarbox heavyweight championship during 2004 as well, with a first-round knockout of Shawn Robinson. Timur defended successfully against Billy Douglas during 2004 and Ronald Bellamy this year. Timur’s most recent outing was a non-title win over David Polk April 22.
Also on the Guilty Boxing card is the World Boxing Council’s No. 11-ranked featherweight, Gamaliel Diaz of Mexico City.
The 24-year-old Diaz, who has a record of 18-5-2 with nine knockouts, will face an opponent to be determined.
Guilty Boxing’s “Guilty Fight Night” telecasts are seen domestically on America One, Comcast Sports Chicago, DirecTV, Dish Network and The Urban Network; in Europe, Africa and middle eastern countries on Fox Sports International; in Europe and Africa on BEN Television; and in the Caribbean on WCVI Super Station.
Guilty Boxing’s weekly cards are seen in 112 million households worldwide, making Guilty Productions one of the fastest-growing providers of boxing television programming in the world.
This is another in the ongoing series of “Guilty Fight Night” cards. The innovative Guilty Boxing series was launched last May and has presented cards in Arizona, California, Connecticut and Mexico as well as Las Vegas.
The card starts at 7 p.m. (Pacific).
Commentators for Guilty Boxing’s “Guilty Fight Night” telecasts are “The Colonel” Bob Sheridan and Benny Ricardo. Sheridan, a Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, has worked almost 800 world championship bouts on six continents during a career that has spanned more than three decades. Ricardo, for 11 years a place kicker on four NFL teams, also is a veteran announcer and has covered the biggest events in the sports world, ranging from Super Bowls to World Cups.