By Alexey Sukachev

Two more fights are being added to the biggest Russian boxing event of the starting year (its first part at least) – the World Boxing Super Series semifinal between IBF champion Murat Gassiev (25-0, 18 KOs) and WBA regular titlist Yunier Dorticos (22-0, 21 KOs) of Cuba.

According to R-Sport’s Vasily Konov Jr., WBA #7 bantamweight Misha Aloyan (3-0) will be pitted against undefeated Nicaraguan Alexander Espinoza (15-0-2, 7 KOs), who is rated #8 by the World Boxing Association.

Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov is being quoted, stating that Aloyan’s WBA 118lb title will be at stake for the upcoming collision.

Aloyan, a decorated amateur, former world champion and a two-time Olympian for Russia has been on a fast track to a world title fight ever since his transition to the pro game.

The 29-year old Russian debuted with a win in a ten-round fight in May 2017 and followed it up with two more decision victories the last year – all against Nicaraguan opponents (Yader Cardoza, Marvin Solano and Hermogenes Castillo).

Another major clash is being scheduled at the lightweight limit. It’s where WBO #2 ranked 135lber Roman Andreev (20-0, 14 KOs) clashes against Welshman Craig Evans (17-1-2, 3 KOs) in a proverbial match up of Offense and Defense. The bout will serve as the WBO eliminator for a presently vacant title, which will be contested between #1 ranked Mexican Ray Beltran and veteran former champion Paulus Moses.

Andreev, 31, is coming off the first-round destruction of 30-10-3 South African Patrick Malinga the last July, while Evans, 28, is best known for his back-to-back draws versus formerly famed amateur Thomas Stalker in 2015.

Previously, a super middleweight affair between former WBA champion Fedor Chudinov (16-2, 11 KOs) and US import Bobby Gunn Jr. (9-0, 7 KOs) was announced as a part of the promotion.

According to Hryunov (quoted by Konov Jr.), WBC/WBA/WBO #3 and IBF #6 rated cruiserweight powerhouse Maxim Vlasov (41-2, 24 KOs) will also see action in the card.

Murat Gassiev vs. Yunier Dorticos will take place on February 3 in Sochi, Russia.