PREVIEW: BATTLE IN BILBAO
This Saturday in Bilbao, Kerman Lejarraga (27-0) defends his European welterweight title against former interim WBA welterweight champion and UK residing David Avenesyan(23-3-1). The fight will take place at the Bilbao Arena in Bilbao,Spain.
The bout which will be Lejarraga's second defence of his title should also see him handed the toughest test of his career. Although they both share the same amount of fights Avenesyan is vastly the more experienced of the two, having shared the ring with fighters such as Shane Mosley and Lamont Peterson.
After beating Charlie Navarro for the interim title back in 2015, Avenesyan's first defence was a successful one against Mosley, outpointing the legend over twelve at the Gila River Arena in Arizona before he himself was unsuccesful challenging Lamont Peterson in early 2017 for the full version of the title.
Since then his career has slowed down fighting only two times since, outpointing journeyman Serge Ambomo over eight and most recently falling to a stoppage defeat to undefeated Lithuanian banger Egidijus Kavaliauskas inside six rounds last February. Avenesyan will be looking to show all his experience and get back to winning ways this weekend.
Lejarraga on the other hand will be looking to build on the undefeated start he has made to his career. Still only twenty seven, Lejarraga will know a win over Avenesyan this weekend will see him on the cusp of potential world honours.
He won the vacant title in April last year, stopping London's Bradley Skeete, dropping him three times in two one sided rounds in what was regarded as a bit of a shock at the time, however has since followed that up with a devastating body shot stoppage victory against an overweight Frankie Gavin in November to successfully defend the title for the first time.
Saturday should be the real acid test for Lejarraga though as Avenesyan will know a defeat to the big punching Spaniard will surely end his ambitions to return to world level. A fantastic bout which surely cant dissapoint with so much at stake.
#kermanlejarraga #davidavenesyan #battleofbilbao #spain #boxing