The super middleweight Petr Khamukov is looking to show that it is better to be late than never.
Khamukov faces David Stevens on Friday in a 10-round main event at the Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California. The bout will stream on DAZN.
Russia’s Khamukov, a 2016 Olympian, turned professional in 2018 and has moved slower than he might have expected. The 33-year-old is 13-0 (6 KOs), and will be fighting for the first time at the super middleweight limit after periods at junior middleweight and middleweight. It is important to note that Khamukov has previously had two fights at a catchweight of 166lbs. Friday’s fight also marks the first of his career over 10 rounds.
“Life and career don’t always follow a straight line,” Khamukov told BoxingScene via a translator. “After the Olympics, I took time to transition from amateur to professional boxing, moved to the US, and adjusted to a new system. I’ve also had fights fall through and some periods without activity. But everything I went through made me stronger.”
Khamukov resides in Woodland Hills, California. He will face Stevens, 14-2 (10 KOs), and who started his career as a cruiserweight before working his way down to light heavyweight and who, since December 2021, has campaigned at super middleweight.
“He’s a strong fighter with power and pressure,” Khamukov said. “He likes to come forward and make it a physical fight. I’ve studied him and we’ve prepared for his style.”
Khamukov points to his boxing IQ as a path to victory. Something that comes from his deep amateur pedigree.
“Honestly, with over 350 amateur fights and my past professional experience, I’ve faced every kind of style, pressure fighters, counter punchers, awkward opponents,” Khamukov said. “Every fight I’ve had has prepared me for this one. That’s what gives me confidence.”
Khamukov will end a 13-month layoff when he returns to the ring; he stopped Esau Herrera de la Cruz in the third round of his past contest. Stevens, a 25-year-old from Reading, Pennsylvania nicknamed “Dynamite," enters having lost two of his past three, the last being a split decision loss to Bektemir “Bek The Bully” Melikuziev. Despite Khamukov being unbeaten, given his age, it is a must-win for both fighters.
“I respect my opponent, but I’m coming to win and to make a statement,” Khamukov said. “This is an important step forward in my career.”
Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at .