Baysangurov-Hernandez added to Golovkin-Stevens card
LAS VEGAS — Former WBO junior middleweight beltholder Zaurbek Baysangurov will end what will be a 13-month ring absence on Nov. 2 when he meets journeyman Freddy Hernandez on the undercard of an HBO-televised clash between WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin and Curtis Stevens from the Theatre in New York’s Madison Square Garden, according to Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions.
Baysangurov (28-1, 20 KOs) is a 28-year-old winner of nine straight fights, six of them by stoppage, since falling by fifth-round stoppage to Cornelius Bundrage in December of 2008.
Baysangurov has been out action due to a back injury, which forced him to vacate the belt he won by first-round knockout over Mike Miranda in July of 2011 before defending it with consecutive unanimous decision victories over Michel Soto and Lukas Konecny in May and October of last year.
Hernandez (30-6, 20 KOs) is a 34-year-old loser of four straight fights, his last victory being a unanimous decision over former titleholder Luis Collazo in October of 2011.
Baysangurov has also served as a sparring partner for Golovkin, most notably prior to Golovkin’s seventh-round stoppage of Gabriel Rosado in January.
In the main event, Golovkin will pursue his 15th straight knockout win against Stevens, a Brooklyn native who is coming off last month’s first-round stoppage of Saul Roman.
Also on the card is a match featuring hard-hitting heavyweights Magomed Abdusalamov and Mike Perez, as well as a battle of welterweights between Dusty Hernandez-Harrison and Josh “Pitbull” Torres. Cruiserweight Ola Afolabi will make his a return against Lukasz Janik on the card as well.
“We’ve got a great lineup,” said Loeffler, who, with Golovkin, is in Las Vegas for Saturday night’s Tim Bradley–Juan Manuel Marquez fight at The Thomas & Mack Center. “It’s really going to be a strong show.”
Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]