FORMIDABLE KAZAKH HEAVYWEIGHT Zhan Kossobutskiy has signed a co-promotional agreement with Queensberry as he seeks to close in on a shot at a world heavyweight title.

The 15-0 (14 KO's) knockout-artist has stopped all but one of his opponents since turning professional in September 2017 and is considered as a heavyweight version of Gennady Golovkin in his homeland.

In August of last year the 32-year-old became only the third fighter to inflict a stoppage on the Brit-based Pole Kamil Sokolowski and his recent record features opponents heavily weighted in the winning column, such as the previously 15-0 Croatian Agron Smakici - who was dispatched inside one round - and the then 17-3 Ghanaian Abraham Tabul, who lasted until the halfway point of the second.

Kossobutskiy recently beat Nigerian Abraham Tabul, who held a record of 18-1, for the vacant WBA International heavyweight title.

"The collaboration between Universum Box-Promotions and Queensberry comes at exactly the right time in my career," said the southpaw Kossobutskiy.  "I want to compete for the World boxing championship this year and I'm looking forward to the big fights that are coming now."

Francis Warren added: "I can't wait to show people first hand what Zhan is capable of. I think UK boxing fans will really take to him. 

"I rate him massively and he is knocking people out for fun!"