Oubaali and Villanueva in Historic World Title Fight

Oubaali and Villanueva in Historic World Title Fight

WBC world bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali will meet the challenge of Arthur Villanueva on the landmark #MTKFightNight in Kazakhstan on July 6 – live on ESPN+.

France’s Oubaali (15-0, 11 KOs) makes his maiden defence against Filipino Villanueva (32-3-1, 18 KOs) on a huge night for Kazakh boxing that sees the likes of national heroes Zhankosh Turarov and Sultan Zaurbek in action as well as WBO European featherweight king Davey Oliver Joyce.

With a colossal night at the Barys Arena in prospect also broadcast on iFL TV, both fighters are proud to be part of the event.

Oubaali said: “I’m expecting this to be a huge night of boxing. There’ll be 10,000 people in the venue so it’s a beautiful night for boxing and for Kazakhstan.

“The fans can expect great entertainment because this collision with Villanueva has all the ingredients to be a really explosive fight.”

Villanueva, who has previously challenged the likes of Zolani Tete for world honours added: “I’m expecting a very tough fight just like my previous world title fights.

“I learned a lot from fights like the Tete fight, where I went the distance. Even though I wasn’t successful in winning the belt that time, I picked up things I can use against Oubaali.”

Oubaali won the title with a superb performance against America’s Rau’shee Warren in Las Vegas back in January; scoring a unanimous decision to fulfil his childhood dream.

As well as Turarov (23-0, 16 KOs) and Zaurbek (7-0, 5 KOs), other emerging Kazakh forces such as Viktor Kotochigov (9-0, 4 KOs), Ali Baloyev (8-0, 7 KOs), Abilkhaiyr Shegaliyev (5-0, 4 KOs), Nurtas Azhbenov (5-0, 1 KO) and Abay Tolesh (1-0, 1 KO) will all be looking to shine.