December 6, 2024 – WBC #4-ranked super featherweight Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov, from Isfara, Tajikistan, has inked a managerial contract with Australia-based manager/agent Jim Kambosos and a long-term promotional deal with elite talent scout Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing.

Additionally, on Thursday December 12, Yaqubov (21-1, 11 KOs) will return from a year of inactivity to face countryman Zafar Parpiev (13-2, 5 KOs) of Kanibadam, Tajikistan, over eight rounds, on a card presented by veteran promoter Shamir Petrossian of Shamo Boxing.

Kambosos and Lewkowicz say the intention is to keep Yaqubov active and relocate him to the United States to live and train, with the goal of guiding the talented southpaw to a world championship rematch with current WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster.

In his nearly nine-year professional career, the 29-year-old Yaqubov has already held the WBC International super-featherweight, WBC–ABCO Continental lightweight, WBO Youth lightweight, WBA Continental super-featherweight, IBF Baltic and WBC International super-featherweight titles and successfully defended several of them along the way.

Yaqubov’s only loss came in a WBC title eliminator against Foster in March 2022, by close unanimous decision. He has since rebounded with three impressive victories, the latest coming in a WBC mandatory elimination bout against then 23-1 contender Pablo Vicente by unanimous decision last November.

Although Yaqubov had earned his shot, promotional problems forced the southpaw to miss his scheduled title-shot rematch in July of this year and kept him on the shelf for the past year. Yaqubov says he’s eager to return to the States and resume his pursuit of a rematch with Foster for the world championship.

“I want to be able to realize my dream in America,” said Yaqubov, who prepared for his fight against Vicente working with Freddie Roach at his Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles. “I want to be a world champion, and I want to do it in America. I’m excited to be working with this great team and I can’t wait to get in the ring next week and get back into the mix of the super featherweight division.”

Manager Kambosos says he’ll be looking to follow the same successful blueprint with Yaqubov that he did while taking his son George from a virtual unknown to the unified lightweight championship of the world in 2021.

“He wants to get his career back online,” said Kambosos of Yaqubov. “He was supposed to rematch Foster last July but missed it because of his promotional disputes. He’s going to stay active and get his visas done and train in the States and get into hard training camps with top fighters. The immediate goal is to get him the Foster rematch he earned by beating Vicente.”

The other key, according to Kambosos is having the right people in place to help his eager fighter.

“Signing Yaqubov with Sampson is a blessing,” he explained. “Sampson has led many fighters to world championships, and he sees tremendous potential in Yaqubov. That means a lot. The first thing we’re going to do is get him back in the ring and back on track.”

Promoter Lewkowicz, famous for spotting unrefined talent all over the world, says he’s happy to join the team and help Yaqubov reach his professional goals.

“Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov is a very talented fighter from Central Asia who just needs to find top training in the United States to become the fighter he can be,” said Lewkowicz. “I’m happy to be working with a gentleman like Jim Kambosos on the career of this highly dedicated fighter. We are optimistic that Yaqubov will regain the number one WBC mandatory position soon and be granted the shot he earned by beating Pablo Vicente.”

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About Sampson Boxing

Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America. Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, ESPN+, DAZN, VS., FOX, Fox Sports and several international networks. For more information, visit sampsonboxing.com.

Former world title challenger Jono Carroll stopped Patrick Ayi Aryee in round four of a scheduled 10-round super featherweight bout.

In round four, Carroll trapped Aryee in the corner and unloaded about 35 unanswered blows that forced a (late) referee stoppage at 2:07.

Carroll, 131.4 of Ireland is 22-7 with seven knockouts. Aryee, 131.4 lbs of Accra, GHA is 21-1-1.

Foster Decisions Yaqubov

O’Shaquie Foster won a 12-round unanimous decision over Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov in a super featherweight contest.

Foster, 129.8 lbs of Houston, TX won by scores of 118-109 and 117-110 twice and is now 19-2. Yaqubov, 129.6 lbs is 18-1.

Masoud stops Boyeux after 2

Shabaz Masoud stopped Yoann Boyeux after round two of their scheduled 10-round super bantamweight bout.

Masoud hurt Boyeux several times in the six-minutes of action and the fight was stopped after the 2nd frame.

Masoud, 121.7 lbs of England is 10-0 with three knockouts. Boyeux, 121.7 of France is 43-7.

DUBAI – FEBRUARY 4, 2022 – The latest bout to be added to the?Probellum?Evolution card sees?WBC Silver super-featherweight champion O’Shaquie?Foster? face?Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov, holder of the?WBC International super-featherweight title, in a WBC super-featherweight world title eliminator. Probellum’s?first?event of 2022 takes place over the course of two successive nights at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 18 and 19, with?highly?anticipated?matches such as Sunny Edwards?(17-0, 4 knockouts)?versus Muhammad Waseem?(12-1, 8 knockouts)?and Regis?Prograis?(26-1, 22 knockouts)?versus Tyrone McKenna?(22-2-1, 6 knockouts)?already confirmed.? Fight fans can now look forward to watching?the?USA’s?Foster?(18-2, 11 knockouts), who signed to?Probellum?in November,?go head-to-head with?undefeated?Tajikistani?Yaqubov?(18-0, 10 knockouts)?on the opening night of the event, which will be headlined by the Middle East’s first-ever all-female world title fight, between France’s Estelle?Mossely?(9-0, 1 knockout)?and Argentina’s?Yanina?del Carmen?Lescano?(10-1, 2 knockouts).?Both?Foster and?Yaqubov?have held their respective titles since 2018?and will now face off?in a bid to become mandatory challenger?for the WBC super featherweight world title, currently held by?Mexican Oscar Valdez. “This fight between?O’Shaquie?Foster and?Muhammadkhuja?Yaqubov?is a fantastic addition to what was already a hugely exciting card,” said Richard Schaefer, President of?Probellum.? “With the winner earning mandatory status, and a guaranteed shot at the WBC super-featherweight world title, there is so much at stake, and we are really looking forward to what promises to be?a brilliant bout between?these?two talented boxers.”? The second night of at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 19, will feature British fighter Sunny Edwards, defending his IBF flyweight title against Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem.?  ?  In the lead-up to the event there will be a week-long programme of entertainment including public workouts, press conferences and weigh-ins, along with a series of activations, while The Irish Village will be introducing special offers for those fans who purchase tickets for Fight Night. Ticket prices start from 50 AED and are available to purchase now via?Platinum List?or in-person at The Irish Village, Al?Garhoud?and Studio City.? For live news and updates, be sure to follow Probellum on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Probellum Launched in September 2021, Probellum is a global boxing promotion and media company, and the fastest-growing brand in the sport.   Probellum’s elite stable includes Nonito Donaire, Regis Prograis, Estelle Mossely, Lee McGregor, Donnie Nietes, Troy Williamson, Dina Thorslund, Muhammad Waseem, O’Shaquie Foster, Will Cawley, Mark Dickinson and Pat and Luke McCormack.   Since launching, Probellum has signed co-promotional partnerships with some of the biggest promoters globally, including Wasserman (Germany), Universum (Germany), GYM (Canada), Maravilla Box (Spain), Team Ellis (Australia), Titov Boxing Promotions (Russia), Volcano Boxing (El Salvador), BXSTRS Promotions (Mexico), PR Best (Puerto Rico) Glozier Boxing (New Zealand), Box Office Sports (Ghana) and LNK Boxing (Latvia).   Probellum hosted its inaugural event at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena in December 2021.