▪️Tanzania’s Yusuf Changalawe TKO’d in the 5th round in Saint Petersburg
March 13, 2026
IBA Pro 15 delivered a night filled with knockouts, technical and tactical battles along with unforgettable championship moments, showcasing rising talents alongside experienced fighters from across the international boxing scene.
With dominant performances, new contenders emerging and a new WBA Asia champion crowned, the event once again highlighted the growing depth and global reach of professional boxing across the IBA landscape.
Kushitashvili stops Changalawe in emotional cruiserweight clash
In the cruiserweight division Georgian fighter Georgiy Kushitashvili faced Yusup Changalawe in an emotional contest that followed a minor misunderstanding between the fighters before the bout.
Kushitashvili, a decorated amateur with a European Championship title and a World Championship bronze medal, immediately imposed his pressure-heavy style. He consistently pushed his opponent back while targeting the body and head with powerful combinations.
Changalawe showed durability and occasionally fired dangerous counters, attempting to draw Kushitashvili into exchanges. In the fourth round the referee deducted a point from Changalawe for repeated low blows.
In the fifth round Kushitashvili launched a sustained attack that sent his opponent to the canvas. Changalawe was unable to beat the count, giving Kushitashvili a technical knockout victory and keeping his undefeated record intact.
After the fight Kushitashvili issued a challenge to world champion Sharabutdin Ataev, seeking a rematch following their close semifinal bout at the World Championships.
Sosulin stops Nagbe to remain unbeaten in main event of IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg hosted IBA Pro 15 on March 12, delivering a packed night of professional boxing featuring international matchups, rising prospects and several impressive performances inside the ring.
The action began at a high pace, with fighters from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas stepping into the ring throughout the evening.
Khudayberganov defeats Teterin in opening bout
The evening began with a heavyweight clash between Jamshid Khudayberganov and Svetoslav Teterin. Teterin, a four-time runner-up at the Russian Championships and a Military World Champion, entered the fight known for his relentless pressure and knockout power.
However, Khudayberganov managed to neutralize the Russian fighter’s aggression, working with discipline and composure throughout the bout. Over the course of the fight he controlled the exchanges and steadily built his advantage.
After the scheduled rounds the judges awarded Jamshid Khudayberganov the victory, giving him the first win of the evening at IBA Pro 15.
Sergey Koldenkov stops Abel Lima in round two
Russia’s Sergey Koldenkov immediately took control of his bout against Cuban opponent Abel Lima. From the opening seconds, Koldenkov applied relentless pressure, pushing his opponent toward the ropes and working effectively with sharp body jabs and powerful left-hand shots.
The sustained attack quickly paid off. In the second round Koldenkov broke through with decisive punches that forced the stoppage, securing an impressive knockout victory.
Eduard Savvin claims dominant stoppage win
Russian prospect Eduard Savvin faced Aime “Avatar” Malungilua and wasted little time asserting his superiority. After a brief opening exchange to measure the distance, Savvin began systematically breaking down his opponent with precise punches to the body.
The fight ended after Savvin landed a powerful left hand that left Malungilua unable to continue, giving the Russian fighter another convincing stoppage victory.
Tamerlan Ozdoev overwhelms Dastan Saaduly
Tamerlan Ozdoev faced Kazakhstan’s Dastan Saaduly in a physically demanding contest. From the opening seconds Ozdoev unleashed a wave of attacks, maintaining constant pressure while targeting both the body and the head with well-timed combinations.
Saaduly showed impressive resilience and even landed a strong liver shot in the third round that briefly troubled Ozdoev. However, the Russian fighter remained composed and continued to mix his attacks effectively.
The decisive moment came after a powerful right-hand shot to the body that forced Saaduly to withdraw, unable to continue into the fifth round.
Kuzmin remains unbeaten after six-round battle
The sixth bout of the evening featured Russia’s Nikita Kuzmin, nicknamed “The Executioner,” against Armenia’s Vakhtang Harutunian.
From the opening bell the fight turned into an intense confrontation, with both boxers repeatedly meeting in the center of the ring. Kuzmin gradually managed to push his opponent toward the ropes, while Harutunian responded with dangerous counterattacks.
In the third round Harutunian suffered a serious cut near his right eye, adding further drama to an already emotional fight.
Throughout all six rounds the fighters exchanged heavy punches without pause. In the end the judges awarded a unanimous decision victory to Kuzmin, who remains undefeated in his professional career.
Popov wins tactical battle against Azhbenov
The seventh bout of the evening featured a special 61 kg contest between two powerful prospects, Ilya Popov and Nurtas Azhbenov.
Popov entered the ring with an outstanding amateur résumé, including a world championship title and multiple Russian national championships. Azhbenov also brought impressive credentials, having previously sparred with American star Shakur Stevenson while helping prepare him for championship fights.
Throughout the fight both boxers operated in the center of the ring, taking their time and approaching the contest with patience and intelligence. Rather than rushing forward, they carefully set traps for each other, turning the bout into a tactical chess match in motion.
Despite having less professional experience, Popov began to seize the initiative midway through the bout, increasingly winning the cleaner exchanges. Azhbenov responded with sharp counterattacks and targeted Popov’s body with heavy punches, but the Russian fighter gradually increased the tempo and pressure.
As the rounds progressed Popov continued to assert control, landing the more accurate shots and dictating the pace of the contest. The judges ultimately awarded him a clear unanimous decision victory, allowing Popov to preserve his unbeaten professional record.
Mironchikov dominates Sobirov to claim WBA Asia title
In the co-main event of the evening in the super middleweight division, Serbia’s Vladimir Mironchikov faced Uzbekistan’s Ulugbek Sobirov for the WBA Asia championship.
Mironchikov entered the fight undefeated with a record of 7–0, while Sobirov brought greater professional experience despite having suffered defeats earlier in his career.
From the opening moments Mironchikov immediately established his distance, controlling the fight behind a disciplined jab while effectively bringing his powerful right hand into play. Sobirov struggled to close the gap as Mironchikov displayed excellent footwork and ring control.
Throughout the fight Mironchikov confidently maintained his range, working sharply with the jab and consistently provoking his opponent into mistakes. He repeatedly launched follow-up attacks and expertly intercepted Sobirov’s attempts to enter the pocket, leaving the Uzbek fighter with very few opportunities to mount an effective offense.
On several occasions during the bout Mironchikov sharply increased the tempo, unleashing aggressive combinations and forcing Sobirov onto the defensive. However, Sobirov showed impressive resilience and determination, enduring the pressure and managing to go the full ten-round distance.
After ten rounds the judges awarded Mironchikov a unanimous decision victory. With this win he captured the WBA Asia title, claiming the first championship belt of his professional career.
Sosulin stops Nagbe to remain unbeaten
The night concluded with the main event in the super welterweight division, where Pavel Sosulin faced Victor Nagbe.
Sosulin entered the bout as an undefeated contender with a record of 12–0 and one of the leading challengers for the WBA title currently held by Xander Zayas. Nagbe stepped in as a late replacement, accepting the fight just two weeks before the event and traveling halfway across the world to face the home favorite in Saint Petersburg.
Sosulin lived up to his nickname “Mex,” applying relentless pressure and targeting the body with heavy punches from the opening rounds. Nagbe initially relied on movement and counter-attacks while working off the back foot.
In the fifth round Nagbe suddenly changed tactics and began exchanging punches at close range, even forcing Sosulin to take several steps back — something rarely seen in the Russian fighter’s bouts.
However, Sosulin quickly reasserted control. Increasing the tempo, he relentlessly pressured Nagbe around the ring with powerful hooks and punishing body shots.
Over the following rounds Sosulin’s advantage became overwhelming. The accumulated damage proved too much, and Nagbe ultimately decided not to come out for the ninth round.
The result was a technical victory for Pavel Sosulin, who remains undefeated and further strengthens his position among the top contenders in the division.
