Murodjon Akhmadaleiv, Beatriz Ferreira Appear At Separate Times On December 14 ‘Monte-Carlo Showdown V’ Card
The former all-rounder continues to seek a second reign while the two-time Olympic medalist will resume his professional career.
Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev and Beatriz ‘The Beast’ Ferreira will headline the annual Matchroom Boxing event in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev will face Mexico’s Ricardo Espinoza in an interim WBA junior featherweight title fight. Brazil’s Ferreira tries to defend her first IBF lightweight title against France’s Licia Boudersa.
Both fights will air live as part of DAZN’s four-fight schedule on December 14 from the Salle Des Étoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo.
“I can’t wait to return to Monte-Carlo for an amazing night of World Championship boxing,” said Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn. “Two exciting World Cup contests, a European Cup clash between two hungry unbeaten rivals and a big game between Ireland and England.
“Monte-Carlo Showdown V has something for everyone!”
For Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 knockouts), that “thing” is a consolation prize.
2016 Olympic bronze medalist and former WBA/IBF 122-pound titleholder remains WBA mandatory challenger Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs). His request for that position to work fell on deaf ears. Inoue will defend his RING/Undisputed 122-pound title against IBF No. 1 Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) dec. 24 in Tokyo.
Fortunately for Akhmadaliev, the WBA is now back in the interim title business. Such a belt will be on the line for the main event of the show. The fight will be Akhmadaliev’s first in 52 weeks. His last outing was a sixth round stoppage over Kevin Gonzalez in their December 16 WBA title fight in Phoenix, Arizona.
“I’m happy to be back at work,” said Akhmadaliev. “It looks like that pound star [Inoue] not ready for big challenges. He can keep running away, but I’ll find what’s rightfully mine anyway.
“MJ is back in business and December is going to be hot!”
Franco (30-4, 25 KOs) is unbeaten in his last six fights dating back to a May 2021 loss to Roman.
Elsewhere, Ferreira (5-0, 2 KOs) returns as champion for the first time since winning the IBF title on April 27 over Yanina del Carmen Lescano. The hope was that Ferriera would become the first fighter to win a major title and an Olympic gold medal in the same year.
Ferreira settled for Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also lost to eventual gold medalist Kellie Harrington to end that dream. Ferreira earned Olympic Silver after losing to Harrington in the final of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
With Paris and the fledgling scene behind him, Ferreira is now moving forward with his promising professional career.
“I’m very happy to be back in the ring and to defend my world title for the first time in Monte-Carlo,” said Ferreira. “I am very proud that I finished my Olympic journey with two medals. From now on I am 100% professional.
“I’m excited about this next phase in my career and I’m fully dedicating myself to professional boxing.”
Incredibly, Boudersa (23-2-2, 4 KOs) is fighting for a major title for the first time in his nine-year professional career.
That figure is almost unknown on the women’s side of boxing. Fighters like Ferreira have become the norm in title runs.
Boudersa only fought in France but made the short trip north to Monte Carlo for the event. The 32-year-old from Lille is fighting for a fourth time in 2024.
“My opponent is very experienced and has won many titles in the past,” admitted Ferreira. “So I’m looking forward to the challenge and hope to move on to the big unification fights and add more World Titles in 2025.”
Also in the show:
Chev Clarke (10-0, 7 KOs) meets undefeated Frenchman Leonardo Mosquea (15-0, 9 KOs) for the vacant EBU European Cruiserweight title.
Gary Cully (18-1, 10 KOs) faces lightweight goalkeeper Maxi Hughes (27-7-2, 6 KOs) in an exciting Ireland vs England match scheduled for ten rounds.
