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David Avanesyan will face undefeated southpaw Terence Crawford for the WBO world title this weekend in what will be the toughest fight of his career.
'Ava' is well-known among UK fans for defeating Josh Kelly, who won the British title last weekend, but the Russian is taking on a much bigger challenge this Saturday.
The 34-year-old from Nottinghamshire takes on pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of his generation.
Avanesyan has previously challenged for a world title, losing a unanimous decision to Lamont Peterson in 2017. He has dominated the European level since then, defeating Kerman Lejarraga for the EBU title and defending it six times, winning all six by knockout.
Ava now believes he is ready to return to the world stage and is confident of pulling off the upset, according to British Boxing News.
“I know going in that I’m a huge underdog and no one is giving me a chance, but let me tell you, I’m going to surprise everyone watching. I’ve had enough time to prepare, so I’ll be ready for the southpaw.”
“There’s a reason Terence Crawford is considered the best fighter in boxing, his skill set is amazing, and he knows how to win. I know my hands are full, but I’m going to do everything I can to become a world champion. I need to stick to the game plan we have in place, and if adjustments need to be made during the fight, I will have to make them.”
“Today I’m a completely different fighter in the ring, and my last six fights have shown my growth when it comes to my power punching. I believe my aggressive style is going to give Crawford problems.”
“I’m coming into hostile territory, his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, all his fans will be there in abundance. I’ve fought most of my career in people’s backyards, and I love it because it gives me an extra buzz. This is what being an underdog is all about. When I walk out of the arena with a monumental victory, I believe I will win his fans over.”
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