Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia announced the full undercard for "The Comeback," featuring two world title fights as Hamzah Sheeraz makes the first defense of his WBO super middleweight championship against Simon Zachenhuber (despite a loss earlier this year), while Josh Kelly defends his IBF junior middleweight championship against unbeaten Irish challenger Caoimhin Agyarko on Saturday, July 25th in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, live worldwide on DAZN. The event, headlined by Anthony Joshua's heavyweight clash with Kristian Prenga, forms part of Jeddah Season in association with Riyadh Season, Matchroom Boxing, SELA and Goldstar.
Kelly makes the first defense of the IBF junior middleweight championship he won by majority decision over Bakhram Murtazaliev in January. The Sunderland, England native now faces Agyarko, who receives his first world title opportunity after his IBF title eliminator earlier this year was canceled.
Joining Kelly on the undercard is fellow Brit Hamzah Sheeraz, fresh off capturing the WBO super middleweight championship in Egypt in May. Sheeraz makes his first title defense against Simon Zachenhuber.
ADDITIONAL BOUTS
Japanese featherweight Reito Tsutsumi returns to Saudi Arabia following a stoppage victory on the "Night of the Samurai" card in Riyadh last December. The unbeaten featherweight faces Alvino Herrera of Mexico, who also enters the bout unbeaten.
Olympic gold medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak of the Ukraine continues his transition from the amateur ranks. Standing opposite him is unbeaten Lenny Patrach of France in another valuable test for the light heavyweight.
British flyweight Mikie Tallon makes his Saudi Arabian debut after extending his unbeaten record earlier this year. The 23-year-old from Liverpool now looks to continue that momentum against Orlando Pino of Venezuela.
India's unbeaten Olympian Nishant Dev continues his professional career against Cesar Diaz of Peru. The 2024 Olympic bronze medalist looks to continue his rise in the junior middleweight division.
Pawel August caused a major upset on the Fury-Makhmudov card in April by defeating the previously unbeaten Zachenhuber despite stepping in as a late replacement with only a few weeks to prepare. He now faces unbeaten Jacob Bank of Denmark, who owns a 19-0 record and earned the biggest victory of his career in January by defeating former world champion William Scull.
Three of Saudi Arabia's leading professional boxers return to the ring on home soil, with Mohammed Alakel, Ziyad Almaayouf and Sultan Almohammed all returning to action. Alakel faces Lydon Chircop, Almaayouf meets Frank Mango and Almohammed takes on Efren Besalduch.
The card also showcases two of Egypt's rising young fighters. Omar Hikal returns following a victory in his last outing to face Brian Castellano of Spain, while Mohamed Mabrouk meets Bryan Zapata as both continue their professional development.
Fight Week begins on Wednesday, July 22nd with the Grand Arrivals at Jeddah Yacht Club, followed by the official press conference on Thursday and the weigh-in on Friday at Jeddah Promenade. Both events will stream live worldwide on DAZN.
