Former world title challenger Walter Kautondokwa and fellow top-rated middleweight Kanat Islam successfully made weight on Friday afternoon in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The two knockout punchers will square off for Islam’s WBO International titles as the headliner of a 9-bout event at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace in Almaty on Saturday evening. Both Kautondokwa and Islam stepped to the scales well under the official 160-pound limit. The Namibian with 158.6 pounds (71.95 kgs) and the hometown fighter with 158.5 pounds (71.9 kgs).

Kautondokwa (18-1, 17 KOs) last fought on the international level a year ago when he proved his toughness as a late replacement opponent against reigning WBO middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade in Boston, Massachusetts. Though the Namibian got dropped multiple times during the get-to, he rose on each occasion and kept coming at his quicker foe in Andrade. In the end, the American won a clean unanimous decision.

Islam (26-0, 21 KOs) is preparing for his second bout in over two years following inactivity largely based on a series of injuries. In his last fight in July, the Kazakh ended matters in 14 seconds against Julio De Jesus in a bout for the vacant WBO International title.

Kautondokwa is currently ranked No. 9 by the World Boxing Organization opposed to Islam’s No. 8 position that means the winner is getting in arm-length for an eventual world title appearance, possibly against the unbeaten Andrade.

“We are back on the world stage with a very tough fight, but Walter is up to the task, and I am confident he will do us proud. This fight is critically important because a win puts him right back at the top where he belongs,” said Nestor Tobias, Kautondokwa’s promoter recently to BoxingScene.com.

The show is co-promoted by American-based Nelson Promotion, Inc. and Kazakhstan’s Qazaq Promotions.