Super middleweight Ali Akhmedov has recently started working with trainer Ricky Funez. He previously worked with Johnathon Banks.
Akhmedov returns against Malcolm Jones in a 10-round fight on Friday at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California. The bout will be streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
Akhmedov, a 29-year-old from Kazakhstan, is trying to follow in the footsteps of his countryman Gennadiy Golovkin – another fighter formerly trained by Banks.
Akhmedov lost in 2020 to Carlos Gongora, who stopped him in the 12th round when Akhmedov was leading on the scorecards. He has won six straight fights since then, but his last performance – against Pierre Hubert Dibombe in September – was less than stellar. Akhmedov hit the canvas in the eighth round, but won a split decision. The momentum he had built up in the four years since his loss began to deflate.
“He definitely did not have his best performance in Ireland,” Charles Bosecker, the matchmaker for 360 Promotions, said. “I know that he was dealing with some complications for that fight.”
Bosecker noted that Akhmedov, 22-1 (16 KOs), had travel issues as he was delayed getting to Ireland, coming off a training camp from hell. Akhmedov has adjusted his preparation for his next fight accordingly.
Jones, 32, from Indianapolis, Indiana, is promoted by Michael Reyes’ Reyes Boxing. He enters the fight coming off a draw in October and holds a record of 17-4-1 (10 KOs).
For Akhmedov, the fight serves as a chance to reestablish himself as a contender in the division. Akhmedov is currently ranked No. 13 by the WBC and No. 15 by the IBF.
“Hopefully with a full training camp and a new trainer he will come out victorious and make a little bit of a statement,” Bosecker said.
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