Heavyweights Arslanbek “The Lion’” Makhmudov and Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello will do battle in a ten-rounder on Saturday, Aug. 17th at Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The clash of 6-foot-6 behemoths will serve as the co-feature to the Christian Mbilli-Sergiy Derevyanchenko super middleweight main event. Promoted by Top Rank and Eye of the Tiger, Mbilli-Derevyanchenko and Makhmudov-Vianello will be broadcast live in the U.S. on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Sky Sports will have coverage in the U.K. & Ireland. “Guido and Arslanbek are two huge heavyweight punchers who like to mix it up, and the winner will be in line for even bigger fights,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “From the main event to the preliminary bouts, we have a sensational card in store for the fans in Quebec City.”
Makhmudov (19-1, 18 KOs) is hungrier than ever since recovering from a double fracture in his right hand sustained halfway through a loss to current heavyweight contender Agit Kabayel. In May, Makhumdov made a triumphant return when he sent Serbian giant Miljan Rovcanin out of the ring en route to a second-round stoppage. Makhmudov defeated Vianello in a World Series of Boxing fight in 2015, as Vianello was forced to retire in the fourth round due to an ear injury. “Vianello is a tough fighter but also a very good fighter, as we saw in his last fight,” Makhmudov said. “This is an important step for me. I want to show that I am a top contender, and to get closer to my goal, I must prove that I’m better than this guy.”
Vianello (12-2-1, 10 KOs), a 2016 Olympian, opened his 2024 campaign in February with a first-round knockout of Moses Johnson in New York City. Less than two months after icing Johnson, he battled one of the division’s biggest punchers, Efe Ajagba, and was on the short end of a closely contested split decision.
“I’m ready to compete against the top heavyweights in the world. This is only the beginning of my journey,” Vianello said. “The fight with Arslanbek is exactly what I wanted at this point in my career, and I look forward to a great fight on August 17 in Quebec City.”
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
The ESPN+-streamed undercard includes: Cuban super middleweight Osleys Iglesias (11-0, 10 KOs) returns following his one-round destruction of Evgeny Shvedenko earlier this month, already a leading candidate for Knockout of the Year.
On the undercard, combining the best talents from north and south of the border, Wilkens Mathieu (9-0, 6 KOs) and Leïla Beaudoin (11-1, 1 KO) will be back in front of their own in Quebec City. Thetford Mines native Thomas "The Ghost” Chabot (10-0, 8 KOs) will also be in action.
In scheduled eight-rounders, Cleveland-born lightweight Abdullah Mason (13-0, 11 KOs) and middleweight Jahi Tucker (11-1-1, 5 KOs) will look to impress in their respective Canadian debuts. Tickets are now on sale via Ticketmaster.ca.
