Champions Lopez and Alvarez will close 2024 and open 2025 to Cuban boxing

On December 6, Paris 2004 bronze medal winner Arlen López (80 kg) will fight the Russian Sharabutdin Ataev―first in the European ranking―in the IBA Champions’ Night Dubai.

Likewise, 2024 Olympic champion Erislandy Álvarez (63,5 kg) will be opposite the Tajikistani Bakhodur Usmonov in the January 18, 2025 semifinals of the world Professional Boxing cup.

López is in for a difficult match, so many specialist have refrained from making a prediction about his 10-round showdown with the Russian.

As to Álvarez, he made it to this important stage after his categorical victory in six rounds against the Kazakh Adilet Kurmetov in Beijing, which means he remains undefeated after four fights in the professional arena.