A few notes from around the boxing world:
Cruiserweight titleholders Denis Lebedev (28-2, 21 KOs), of Russia, and Argentina’s Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs) have signed to fight each other in a unification fight, according to Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing. The bout is tentatively scheduled for April 30 in either Moscow or Sochi, Russia. However, Ryabinsky is interested in putting on the fight in the United States, although he does not have a site or television deal yet. If he doesn’t get one, the fight would likely be in Russia. Lebedev, 36, is coming off an eighth-round knockout of Lateef Kayode to retain his belt on Nov. 4 in Kazan, Russia. Ramirez, 31, elevated from an interim titlist to a full titleholder late last year, retained his version of the title for the first time in a draw against England’s Ovill McKenzie on Oct. 2.
Up-and-coming junior welterweight Sergey Lipinets (8-0, 6 KOs), of Kazakhstan, will take on Levan Ghvamichava (16-1-1, 12 KOs), of Georgia (the former Soviet Republic) in a 10-round bout that will headline a Premier Boxing Champions card on March 15 (Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes) at the Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice, California. In the co-feature, Mongolian featherweight prospect Tugstsogt Nyambayar (4-0, 4 KOs), a 2012 Olympic silver medalist now living in Southern California and training with Joe Goossen, will box in his first scheduled 10-round fight. Nyambayar, who did not turn pro until 2015, will face Puerto Rico’s Rafael Vasquez (16-2, 13 KOs).
On Wednesday, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz announced that he has signed junior welterweight Juan Ruiz (16-0, 10), 29, of Venezuela. Ruiz has been a pro since 2006 but had various layoffs due to promotional and managerial issues. “I'm happy about this deal and really looking forward to showing the world what I can do," said Ruiz, who is training in San Diego. "I want to get in with [the] top guys right away. I'm better than everybody out there. I just needed the opportunity to shine." Said Lewkowicz: "This is a very talented fighter who just needed a break. I will work hard to find him the right fights, so he can go to the top of the 140 [or] 147 divisions quickly.”
A purse bid to for the fight between featherweight titlist Lee Selby (22-1, 8 KOs) and mandatory challenger Eric Hunter (21-3, 11 KOs) is scheduled for Feb. 23.