2020 Tokyo Olympics featherweight gold medalist Albert Batyrgaziev (3-0, 3 KOs as a pro) will resume his career in the paid ranks on October 11 in Ufa, Russia. Batyrgaziev is about to take on Italian Albanian veteran Suat Laze for a vacant WBO European featherweight title.

Batyrgaziev, 23, rose to stardom in August, becoming the only Russian fighter to win the top honors (albeit under the artificial ROC designation). Albert defeated experienced Cuban international veteran Lazaro Alvarez in the semi-final and then the USA hopeful Duke Ragan in the final of the Olympic tourney.

Like Ragan and some other fighters, Batyrgaziev is no stranger to the pro game. He kicked off his other career in July 2020 for a better preparation to the upcoming Olympics, as he was set for a possible collision with a handful of other fighters with pro experience. Batyrgaziev fought thrice in a span of six months, scoring the same number of stoppages.

Suat Laze, 41, a native of Durres, Albania, will be Batyrgaziev’s toughest and most experienced opponent in a pro game. Laze (25-7-1, 7 KOs), who has never been stopped, fought under the Italian license in the paid ranks. He has never beaten a bona fide contender but he was always tough and durable in losses to them/ Laze also briefly held the Italian 126lb title. In his most recent appearance in March 2021, he lost a close technical decision to Christopher Mondongo for the very same belt. The fight is scheduled for ten.

In the chief support fight of the evening, light welterweight prospect Khariton Agrba (5-0, 2 KOs), also a former amateur standout, takes on fellow undefeated compatriot Andrey Maik (7-0, 1 KO) over ten rounds.

The entire show will be organized by the Dynamo Boxing Promotions and supported by the PariMatch. The tournament, dedicated to Bashkortostan National Day, will be aired live by the MatchTV channel.