Israil Madimov and Michel Soro are ready to resolve unfinished business.

The junior middleweight rematch is set months after being formally ordered by the WBA, as Matchroom Boxing confirmed that it will land on the already announced July 9 DAZN show at The O2 In London. The bout is one of two confirmed rematches on the show, with the main event featuring former heavyweight title challengers Derek Chisora and Kubrat Pulev meeting six years after their first encounter. 

Madrimov won the first fight—to which Matchroom won the promotional rights in a purse bid—via controversial ninth-round knockout last December 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Madrimov (8-0, 6KOs) was presented with his toughest assignment as a pro, with Soro fighting on even terms through eight-plus rounds.

The WBA title eliminator took a dramatic turn when Madrimov—an Uzbekistan-born contender who trains out of Indio, California—rocked Soro with roughly 20 seconds to go. The action continued well beyond the bell, a situation poorly handled by referee Salvador Salva who stopped the fight upon rendering Soro defenseless at a point when he should have been afforded a one-minute rest period. 

The matter was immediately protested by Soro and head trainer Abel Sanchez, with a lengthy delay for naught as the original ruling was upheld. 

The WBA got involved, ordering that Madrimov had to once again face Soro before being formally named as its mandatory challenger to the junior middleweight title. The two sides were able to reach terms without the pairing going to a purse bid hearing for a second time.

"I am looking forward to this fight again," said Madrimov. "After the first fight I told my team right away, if the way the fight ended requires a rematch, I am willing to do it.

"I do not want any unanswered questions left. Let the best man win this time honorably and decisively. We are having a good camp and will be ready for July 9."

Soro (35-3-1, 24KOs) now gets one more chance to advance beyond his longtime place as a bubble contender in the loaded junior middleweight division. 

The 34-year old Cote d'Ivorie native, now based out of France, has long been at the doorstep of contention but has come up short in his biggest fights. Soro rode a 13-fight unbeaten streak leading into his July 2017 interim WBA interim title fight with then-unbeaten Brian Castano, who claimed a split decision on the road in Evian les Bains, France. 

A July 2019 rematch was planned but never saw the light of day.

Soro was left to instead accept two fights in 2019 that were stay-busy affairs on paper but allowed him to advance in the WBA rankings. A fifth-round knockout of Cedric Vitu in November 2019 was his last fight before the pandemic, going more than two years away from the ring leading into the first fight with Madrimov.

A much quicker turnaround is afforded the veteran contender, along with a shot at revenge. 

“Madrimov is a great fighter and an exemplary sportsman, a very respectful man,” said Soro. “This fight is crucial for each of us, we are going to war.

"I will be much stronger than in the first fight, I have no right to defeat, I will give everything and I will win.”

The winner will become one of four mandatory challengers awaiting a shot at undisputed junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo (35-1-1, 19KOs).