DR CONGO’S MBABI IN HER FIRST IBA PRO FIGHT TONIGHT

DR CONGO’S MBABI IN HER FIRST IBA PRO FIGHT TONIGHT

DR Congo’s reigning Africa welterweight champion Brigitte Mbabi (3-0-0) steps into the ring tonight, April 25, for her first IBA Pro fight against Russia’s Azalia Amineva (2-0). The Russian is set to compete professionally in Ufa for the third time at the Sports Training Center of the Republic of Bashkortostan Wrestling Palace in Russia.

Amineva previously defeated Rehema Abdallah of Tanzania and Raj Sahiba of India.

For Mbabi, she is to compete outside of the DRC and neighbouring Republic of the Congo for the first time – but has won all her three matches by early stoppage.

Mbabi turned pro after winning gold in the Africa Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo, in 2024.

IBA Pro has been launched in 2025 with a clear mission to redefine the professional boxing landscape. IBA Pro is going to embrace the very best talents – renowned boxers and strong prospects – directly under one umbrella. The professional league is unlocking new opportunities along with raising the bar internationally by introducing new standards across the industry.

Meanwhile, a solid 12-round bout is set to be contested by Russia’s Pavel Sosulin and Lucas Brian Bastida from Argentina in the super welterweight division for the WBA Gold world title and IBA Intercontinental title. Sosulin (12-0) has had a great start to his professional career, remaining unbeaten with half of his victories coming by stoppage. Last year he defeated Turkish boxer Fatih Keles and Uzbekistan’s Kudratillo Abdukakhorov in IBA events. His last win came in Armenia when he knocked Filipino Carlo Bacaro in the third round.

Bastida (22-3-1) is the one more experienced of the two and is set to feature in his first IBA event. His last win came in October when he beat Bohdan Sobol of Ukraine in Riga in the eighth round by knockout.

Photos courtesy tapology.com and IBA