Heavyweights Bakhodir Jalolov (14-0) and Agron Smakici (20-2) meet April 14 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on what is billed as an IBA Boxing Night.
Jalolov also doubles in what is now known as "Olympic Boxing", but the fight against Smakici is a professional boxing match. Smakici had the then-European champion Agit Kabayel hurt and floored in their fight in 2023, but he got stopped in the third.
***
Finnish veteran Timo Laine (30-20) will appear in a farewell fight on April 12 in Helsinki against an opponent to be confirmed.
Laine is recognised as a journeyman who won at home and took on all comers on the road while fighting from Russia to Canada, and also giving his best while fighting in Germany, Romania, and the UK.
The event, billed as Gee Bee Boxing Night, marks the first time professional boxing is featured in the classic Gee Bee (in memory of heavyweight Gunnar Baerlund) Tournament. Anton Embulaev (6-0) and Elias Okkonen (7-0-1) also feature.
***
This first "This Is Boxing" event of the year goes ahead on Saturday in Oslo, Norway where Kevin Melhus (11-0) fights German Pascal Wolters (11-1) at cruiserweight.
The Norwegian heavyweight Thomas "The Last Viking" Narmo (7-0, 7 KO), who is based in Germany, won on March 30 by blasting out Enes Kirmizitprak inside a round.
***
The EBU has announced that lightweights Yvan Mendy (48-6-1) and Sam Noakes (13-0) will fight for the vacant title on April 20 at London’s York Hall on a Queensberry Promotion.
The winner can expect Italian Gianluca Ceglia (21-4-1) to be installed as their mandatory challenger. Ceglia holds the lightly regarded EBU Silver title.