A potential slugfest is brewing under the surface of Saturday night’s “Latino Night” as junior welterweight puncher Oscar Duarte faces Batyr Akhmedov, a late replacement for Duarte’s original opponent, Kenneth Sims Jnr.
The two will clash in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with DAZN broadcasting the event. English may be a second language for both fighters, but each is clear about their confidence and readiness. Notably, they’ve shared rounds in sparring—a familiarity that adds depth to the tension.
“I feel good,” Duarte, 28, said on Tuesday. “I’ve been focused on training very hard, and very focused on this fight.” Duarte, who is 27-2-1 (22 KOs) and trained by Robert Garcia, suffered a setback in December with a knockout loss to Ryan Garcia. However, he rebounded in April with a decisive stoppage of Joseph Diaz Jnr in Fresno, California, on the Jose Ramirez-Rances Barthelemy undercard.
Reflecting on his growth since his loss to Garcia, Duarte said through a translator, “I feel I’m a better fighter, and my focus is to improve myself. Of course, I feel better after that fight—Riyadh will see that.”
Akhmedov, training with the Diaz Brothers in California, stepped in on short notice but didn’t hesitate to accept the challenge. “When I got this call, I just accepted it because I’m a warrior,” he said via a translator. “I was in camp, and I was ready, so for me, this is a big chance to show myself to new fans in Saudi Arabia.”
With a record of 10-3 (7 KOs), the 33-year-old Akhmedov returns after a year-long layoff, having last fought in a third-round stoppage of Mukhammadsalim Sotvoldiev. Before that, he lost two close decisions, including a split decision title fight against Alberto Puello and a majority decision to Sims Jnr—the very opponent Duarte had originally expected.
“Well, yeah, you’re right,” Akhmedov said when asked about Duarte’s high-volume output. “But you know, I’m also throwing a lot of punches, and I have an aggressive style. Let’s see who throws more and throws best.”
Read the full article here
