By Alexey Sukachev and Yuri Tarantin (Allboxing.ru)

Former world title challenger Anton Novikov (29-1, 10 KOs) of Kopeysk, Russia, makes his ring return on December 6 in Los Angeles, California. The 26-year old Russian will face rugged Nicaraguan Santos Benavidez (23-5-2, 17 KOs) in an eight-round tune-up bout, televised as a part of the UniMas boxing show, promoted by Top Rank.

Novikov is coming off a slightly controversial unanimous decision loss in a bid for a “regular” WBA light welterweight title against its current holder and a mastermind of Russian boxers Jesse Vargas – a fight he has lost with wider-than-accepted margins (111-118, 111-118, 111-117). The Russian fighter isn’t rated by any major sanctioning body even despite the fact he has taken part in a world championship and lost it just narrowly.

An always exciting Benavidez is 32 years of age and has fought against top-tier opponents before but he is 0-3 over the last four years. He has also met and lost to Novikov’s teammate Denis Shafikov a year and three months ago. The Nicaragua is best known for his wins over future world champion (and then-undefeated) Jose Alfaro and former WBA champion Antonio Cermeno as well as for his memorable war with Puerto-Rican Rocky Martinez in 2008.