By Alexey Sukachev

A new card is about to be established in Russian professional boxing, and British promoter Al Siesta is one behind the scene. On the scene is a former IBF/IBO light welterweight champion Eduard “The Eagle” Troyanovsky (27-2, 24 KOs), also nicknamed Troy, who will be back to the ring in October.

“We are planning an invasion – to enter the Russian fight scene on the back of the Trojan Horse. Summer music festivities are over, and we are ready to establish our boxing festivities, our local Woodstock. The time has come, and the Cultural Revolution is finally at the doors of the Russian boxing”, commented Siesta, who has already established tight connections in Russia, via his press officers.

“I’m also ready to voice the banner name of a huge project, involving a number of Russian and foreign prospects – The KOntender. It’s a new taste of the prizefighting in Russia. I’m coming with a fascinating and competent team, which will be led by former world heavyweight champion and now top manager Ruslan Chagaev and famous Russian/Belarussia coach Andrey “Bupas” Ivichuk. The first installment of the series will be a defining moment for the career of Eduard Troyanovskiy. We shall announce his opponent very soon”, concluded Siesta.

Troyanovsky started his pro career at a very late (for his weight class) age of 29 in Germany and struggled promotionally before relocating himself to Russia.

A long series of early knockouts, provided by his lethal right hand, earned him the IBF light welterweight title shot against 48-0, just 2 KOs, Argentinean Cesar Rene Cuenca, whom he stopped twice in a row. He also blitzed Japanese Keita Obara in a wild fight in September 2016 before being knocked out cold by little-known (at the time) Namibian Julius Indongo less than three months after that.

Troyanovskiy got back to the winning rhythm in 2017, scoring two vicious knockouts. In his latest fight, he lost a tight decision to Belarussian WBA 140lb champion Kirill Relikh in what was the quarterfinal of the second year of the World Boxing Super Series.