Two former light heavyweight title challengers, who saw no action in 2023, will collide with each other in a locally meaningful cruiserweight clash on Saturday, February 24th, in Moscow, Russia. The Eurasian Boxing Parliament’s cruiserweight title will be at stake in this fight.

Igor Mikhalkin, 38, is a continentally known technician, who spent his career mostly in Germany. He debuted as a pro in November 2007 and got his first notable win two years later over 20-1 Doudou Ngumbu (he later outpointed the Frenchman twice more in 2013 and 2017). Mikhalkin held the European 175lb title in 2014-2016 and the IBO belt in 2017-2018. He scored a handful of solid wins during this period, including those over Hugo Kasperski, Hakim Chioui, 27-0-2 Thomas Oosthuizen, and two victories over Ngumbu.

Mikhalkin’s career reached its apex in March 2018, when he challenged famed compatriot Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight belt but was stopped in seven rounds. Mikhalkin’s career went slightly downhill after that. He was last seen in the ring in November 2022, scoring a ten-round unanimous decision over crude Dilmurod Satybaldiev.

Umar Salamov, 29, is a lanky Chechen boxer-puncher, who started his career in Ukraine before coming back to his native land in 2016. Salamov is a well-travelled boxer, however, having fought in Russia, Ukraine, USA, Australia, and New Zeeland. He also holds a win over Ngumbu, as well as those over Bob Ajisafe and Emil Markic. His lone loss during this period came in July 2017 against 2012 Australian Olympian Damien Hooper.

Salamov had a chance of a lifetime in December 2021, when he challenged long-time light heavyweight stalwart Dmitry Bivol for Bivol’s WBA world title. Salamov tried hard but lost widely on points to the defending champion (109-119, 110-118, and 110-118). He fought just once after that, stopping Namibian journeyman Vikapita Meroro in just a round in September 2022.