Kazakhstan cruiserweight Kamshybek Kunkabayev will now face Server Emurlaiev on this Saturday’s MTK Fight Night in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event will be broadcast in the US on ESPN+ in association with Top Rank, and worldwide on IFL TV. Kunkabayev (2-0, 2 KOs) was originally set to take on Steven Ward but after the Belfast man was forced out of the contest, Kunkabayev will now face Emurlaiev (23-1, 9 KOs). Kunkabayev dazzled as an amateur, winning multiple national titles and silver medals at the World Championships and Asian Championships in 2017 and 2019, and fought very tough competition since entering the paid ranks. Emurlaiev is from the Ukraine. Inactive from 2012 through last week, his one loss was a split decision at super middleweight to respected Stanislaus Kashtanov.

 

Elsewhere on the main card, some Nurtas Azhbenov (10-0, 4 KOs) faces Evgeny Smirnov (13-1-3, 3 KOs) at lightweight and welterweight Talgat Shayken (3-0, 2 KOs) has a big step up against Evgeny Pavko (18-3-1, 13 KOs).

 

Ali Baloyev (10-0, 7 KOs) meets Denis Tsaryuk (12-4, 10 KOs) in a cruiserweight contest, Abay Tolesh (6-1, 4 KOs) goes up against Vasily Shtyk (2-2, 2 KOs), and a clash of undefeated fighters sees Bagdat Uaydayev (3-0) face Sagyndyk Moldashev (2-0, 1 KO).

 

There is also a packed undercard, which features the likes of Torgynbek Amirov (3-0), Nurbol Sultanbay (4-0, 1 KO), Rakhat Seitzhan (3-0, 2 KOs), Nurdos Tolebay (4-0, 2 KOs), Aidos Medet (4-0, 3 KOs) and Zhansaya Rakhymberdi (2-0).