The Meta Apex in Las Vegas is set to host Zuffa Boxing 03 on Sunday night. Prior to the heavyweight main event of Efe Ajagba vs. former IBF champion Charles Martin, these will be the featured main card bouts: Umar Dzambekov vs. Ahmed Elbiali in the lightheavyweight division and Abel Mejia vs Jaybrio Pe Benito at lightweight. Here is a preview:
Umar Dzambekov vs. Ahmed Elbiali
Austrian light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov will look to extend his erfect professional record to 14-0 when he takes on "The American Pharaoh" Ahmed Elbiali over ten rounds. Now based in Los Angeles, the southpaw Dzambekov has established a reputation for being dangerous early in his fights – all of his nine career knockouts have come inside the first four rounds – and the 28-year old is aiming to add another victory to his resumé when he takes on Egypt's 24-1 prospect Elbiali.
Elbiali, born in Cairo and now age 35, fights out of Las Vegas. He has 19 knockouts among his 24 career victories, and has only seen the scorecards once in the last nine years. His lone defeat during that time came against former world champion Jean Pascal back in 2017, with Elbiali heading into fight night this weekend on an eight-fight win streak. Both men are in top form, both have knockout power, and both will be keen to make an early statement in the Zuffa Boxing light heavyweight division.
Abel Mejia vs Jaybrio Pe Benito
In the main card opener, undefeated lightweights Abel Mejia and Jaybrio Pe Benito go head to head over eight rounds. Fighting out of El Modena, California, Mejia heads into the bout with real momentum, with his second-round knockout victory in November taking his career record to 10-0. The 22-year old has previously campaigned for most of his young career at junior lightweight, but will make the move up to 135 pounds for his Zuffa Boxing debut on Sunday night
Making that same jump in weight is Pe Benito, whose 6-0 career includes four knockouts. Most recently, he defeated Sebastian Gutierrez via unanimous decision after six rounds. Both men have cut their teeth on the California boxing scene, but now they'll make their first appearances in fight capital of the world as they step up to the eight-round duration for the first time in their careers.
