A proper all-Eastern European encounter is set for May 9 when Uzbekistan's
Shohjahon Ergashev faces Kazakhstan's Batyrzhan Jukembayev.
The junior welterweight clash will take place at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, the Uzek capital, All Stars Entertainment announced.
Ergashev (25-2, 22 KOs) and Jukembayev (24-1, 17 KOs) are a pair of 34-year-old power-punching southpaws with amateur pedigree who are looking to climb back up the 140-pound ladder after each suffered stoppage losses to current WBC champion Subriel Matias.
Ergashev is 2-2 over his last four fights since enduring the first loss of his pro career to Matias for the IBF title in November 2023. Sandwiched in between a pair of first-round knockouts was a 10-round split decision loss to Julian Smith in 2024. Ergashev was supposed to face Hovhannes Bachkov in July but pulled out of the planned matchup on fight week because of a left hand injury.
Jukembayev is riding a six-fight winning streak since suffering an eighth-round stoppage to Matias in 2021. Jukembayev fought only once last year, scoring a 10-round unanimous decision win against Kane Gardner in Kazakhstan.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.