Can Cubans tame Astana Wolves?

On December 13 the Champions of the 3rd WSB Season Astana Arlans are fighting the ferocious Cuba Domadores, reports Tengrinews citing sports.kz. The great tactician Sergei Korchinsky’s of the Astana Wolves, decided on the 5 boxers who will face the Cuban talents in Almaty, Kazakhstan next Friday. The boxers are: Miras Zhakupov (-52 kg), Zhandos Momunov (-60 kg), Bakhytzhan Kozhabekov (-69 kg), Hrvoje Sep (-81 kg) and Ruslan Myrsatayev (+91 kg). This time the Alpha Wolves have two debutants to be “baptized” in the fight against the contenders for the Champion crown, the Cuba Tamers. The experienced boxer Miras Zhakupov (4WP) is going to face a Cuban debutant Gerardo Cervantes (1WP). Orthodox Zhakupov had a great season in 2012-2013 and beat Mikola Butsenko from the Ukrainian Otomans in the finals. The “home” boy Zhakupov, who has bested all his opponents in his home ring, can certainly stand against the Cuban talent Cervantes. The Cuban may be new to the WSB but he has already won both fights he had. Besides, Cervantes has a great record outside the WSB project, as he won in championships in Havana. Certainly, considering Zhakupov and Cervantes’ experience, the fight will not be an easy for either of the boxers. Two WSB debutants will be coming onto the ring in the lightweight category. It is going to be the first fight for Zhandos Momunov in the WSB while Alvarez Lazaro had a victorious bout against the Polish team. Momunov has noteworthy experience outside the WSB. He won several International and Kazakhstani championships and a bronze medal in the Spartakiad of Kazakhstan. The Cuban boxer had only one WSB fight so far, but he has already proved that he is capable of adapting to the project. His Cuban schooling in boxing certainly makes Lazaro a serious opponent for Momunov. The welterweight (-69 kg) category will have another pair of WSB debutants who have an impressive experience outside professional boxing. Arisnoidys Despaigne, 31 will face Bakhytzhan Kozhabekov, 26. Kozhabekov is known to be a technical and steady amateur boxer. The Arlan has reached finals of several major championships in Kazakhstan throughout his careers. The Cuban superstar, before becoming a Tamer of the Cuba Domadores, won a silver medal at the AIBA World Boxing Series in Almaty losing to our very own Daniyar Yeleussinov. In his first WSB fight he TKOed Rafal Perczynski of the Poland Hussars. Yeleussinov showed that there is chance for the Kazakh boxing school to prevail over the prestigious Cuban boxing school. We are hopeful for Kozhabekov to follow the suit of his fellow boxer and bring victory to the Arlans this Friday. Two orthodox boxers will come on the ring in the light heavyweight (-81) category. Hrvoje Sep of the Astana Wolves will fight against Julio Cesar La Crus of the Cuban Tamers. The veteran of the WSB Sep had 3 successful seasons. Before joining the Wolves, the Croatian boxer fought for Paris United. All in all, he had 18 fights and won 13 of them. Outside WSB, Sep won a silver medal in 2012 and a gold medal in 2010 at the National Championship. As for the Cuban boxer, it is La Crus’ first season. In the fight against the Poland Hussars he TKOed Pawel Stepien. As the captain of the Cuban National team, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Baku. Both boxers have admirable records, which will only make the light heavyweight bout more competitive and entertaining. The Best Asian Boxer of the WSB in 2012 Ruslan Myrsatayev will fight Jose Angel Larduet. Hard-hitting Myrsatayev had 3 great seasons in Astana Arlans with 12 wins out of 16 fights he had so far. His iron fists punched through to 7WP, 4TKOs and 1KO. In comparison, Larduet, who is younger and taller than Myrsatayev, participated in the 2012 Olympics but lost to Italian Clemente Russo. Also, the Cuban won a bronze medal in the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships. Myrsatayev, who is known to be a great “home” fighter, has solid chances against Larduet in the bout in Almaty. The fans of the Alpha Wolves hope for another home win, but it seems the location does not bother the Cubans. The Cuban Tamers are on their way to stand against and defeat the Champions Astana Wolves. The question is: will the Cubans tame the Alpha Wolves in their home ring? We will find it out on December 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Baluan Sholak Sports Palace at #44 Abai Av. (at the crossing with Baitursynov Str.). A pass for the spectacular show and the most anticipated fight of WSB season can be purchased at Meloman Stores and ticketon.kz for 1000($7) - 5000 tenge ($33). The Cuban Tamers will try to knock out the Arlan’s fangs. But can they avoid the deadly paws of the Astana Arlans’ boxer?